Park Hills woman sentenced in Fentanyl patch death

FARMINGTON, Mo. (AP) -- A 53-year-old eastern Missouri woman is sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with a man's death from an overdose involving Fentanyl patches.

Joy Gray-Johnson of Park Hills pleaded guilty on Friday to distribution of a controlled substance. As part of a plea agreement, charges of second-degree murder were dismissed.

Two men pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the case and received 15-year prison terms.

An autopsy showed that 21-year-old John Pritchett died in 2007 of a mixed drug reaction from Fentanyl, Methadone and Oxycodone. Authorities say the two men sold Pritchett Fentanyl patches they had purchased from Gray-Johnson.

Gray-Johnson told police she sold about half of her patches each month to supplement her disability income.

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Information from: Park Hills Daily Journal, http://dailyjournalonline.com.