Couple Indicted on Manslaughter For Selling Heroin to Overdose Victim

A St. Charles couple was indicted for involuntary manslaughter after law enforcement officials said they sold heroin to a man, who overdosed and died July 31. A St. Charles County grand jury reached decisions to hold both over for trial.

Thomas Lucas, 23, and Whitney M. Patrick, 23, both of the 200 block of Ameristar Boulevard in St. Charles, also were indicted on two counts of distributing a controlled substance.

St. Charles County Drug Task Force detectives said Jemil Ely, 23, gave Lucas and Patrick $50 for five doses of heroin. Lucas then bought eight heroin doses in the city of St. Louis on July 30.

Patrick, Lucas’ girlfriend, then gave the heroin to Ely, keeping three doses for herself.  Lucas and Patrick said rather than give Ely five doses, they gave it to him in two separate occasions.

Lucas and Patrick each told police they knew Ely had overdosed on two occasions and they were afraid he would overdose again if they gave him all five doses. Both were present during one overdose, police said.

Police said Ely overdosed July 31 and died after taking the heroin provided by Lucas and Patrick.

The couple both said they participated in the drug deal so Patrick could get free heroin. She acknowledged being a heroin addict.

“During the investigation, Patrick seemed to show little remorse for her actions and viewed Ely’s death as a likely outcome of heroin usage,” a Drug Task Force detective wrote in a report. “She advised that she had lost several close friends to heroin use.”

Lucas told police he is a recovering heroin addict, but admitted to using suboxone.

Patrick posted a $12,500 cash-only bond and was released Oct. 19 on condition that she continue drug treatment and submit to weekly drug tests. Lucas posted a $10,000 cash-only bond and was released Nov. 20, and must submit to biweekly drug tests.

For more crime information on St. Charles Patch, see the following articles:

• Heroin Distribution Charge Related to Roommate's Death