This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A 22-year-old Utah County man is facing a federal drug distribution charge after authorities said he gave heroin to a Provo mother who later died of an overdose.
Edward Lee Poorman, of Vineyard, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court with felony distribution of heroin.
The woman, who was not identified in charging documents, died at a Provo residence in the early afternoon on July 6 after an overdose. Charging documents state that Poorman helped the woman get heroin the day before she died.
Melodie Rydalch, U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman, said heroin control "is certainly a priority for us." She noted that the woman's death also made it a priority case for the agency. She said there is an ongoing federal investigation related to the case, but she would not give additional details.
A neighbor on the morning of July 6 had noticed the woman's young son looking "lost and afraid" outside the home. He told the neighbor he could not get his mother to wake up, according to an affidavit filed by a federal Homeland Security investigator.
A different neighbor and emergency officials worked to save the woman, to no avail. A medical examiner's report later said she died due to the "combined effects" of methamphetamine and heroin in her system, the charging documents said.
Provo Police Department detectives found a "small amount" of heroin, syringes and the woman's cellphone at the scene. They also found multiple messages on the phone's Facebook messenger application connecting the woman's possession of heroin with Poorman, the documents said.
"So what would you tell me if I asked you to get high? Ive got $," the woman messaged. Poorman said he was "down" and had "a connect," according to the documents. After apparently obtaining heroin from Poorman on July 3, the woman told Poorman on July 5 that her father had sent her additional money and she wanted more heroin.
Poorman replied, "I know where to get it!"
In a Feb. 1 interview with Poorman at the Utah County jail, according to the documents, he told agents he did help secure heroin on the evening of July 5, that the woman later dropped him off at a gas station and that he didn't see her after that.
Federal penalties for distribution of heroin are up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, according to a U.S. attorney's office news release.
If Poorman is convicted, Rydalch said, the woman's death would play a role in the sentencing.
Twitter: @lramseth