A central Missouri woman is facing charges after her daughter died of a fatal overdose on Christmas Eve.
Starletta L. Blevins, aka Starletta Moore, 49, of Dixon, was arrested Tuesday night and booked into the Maries County jail facing charges of second-degree murder and distribution of a controlled substance.
Deputies who were called to the family's home on Dec. 24 found a 16-year-old girl dead in her bed of an overdose.
Sheriff Chris Heitman says Missouri law makes giving someone drugs that subsequently kills them is grounds for a second-degree murder charge. Two other people in the house were arrested.
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The sheriff released the following news release:
After a month long investigation members of the Maries County Sheriff's Office have arrested Starletta L. Blevins aka Starletta Moore age 49 of Dixon. Blevins has been charged with Murder 2nd Degree a class A felony, distribution of a controlled substance a class b felony, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child a class c felony.
It is alleged that on Christmas Eve of 2014 Blevins provided her 16 year old daughter, Kaylynn Moore, a controlled substance, and as a result of her distributing that controlled substance Kaylynn overdosed and died. During the course of the investigation members of the Sheriff's Office recovered suspected controlled substances, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, on Christmas Eve we removed a ten year old minor child from the residence. That child has been placed in the custody of the children's services division due to the enormous amount of drug use taking place inside the residence and the unsanitary conditions of the residence.
"I have seen a lot of poor parenting in my lifetime, but this is the worst I have ever seen! It is sad that drugs have caused the senseless death of this young girl, and being a father makes this case even harder. I am glad justice has been served. This is not the first fatal overdose that has happened to this family. The victim's sister age 15 died April 11, 2003 with similar symptoms."
While serving the arrest warrant at Blevin's residence, on February 3, 2015, members of the Maries County Sheriff's Office recovered suspected controlled substances, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. "It is truly sad the death of Kaylynn didn't stop their drug use. Also arrested at the residence was: Ashley E Mize age 24 of St. Robert for an outstanding probation warrant out of Pulaski County for possession of controlled substance with no bond, and Scottie W. Pierce age 26 of Dixon. Mize and Pierce may be facing additional drug charges.
Chris Heitman, Sheriff
Maries County Sheriff's Office