On March 18, 2023 the Anderson Police Department responded to an address in Anderson where Cody Pidcock was found deceased from an overdose. Several weeks later on April 4, 2023, the Anderson Police Department responded to a different address in Anderson where Jennifer Ost was discovered deceased from an overdose. Autopsy results from Pidcock and Ost revealed a combination of substances including Fentanyl and Norfentanyl which caused their overdose deaths.
A months long investigation by the Madison County Drug Task Force revealed Arielle Johnson was the source of the narcotics which caused the deaths of both Pidcock and Ost. The Madison County Prosecutor's Office charged Arielle Johnson with Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony; Count II: Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Cody Pidcock); Count III Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Jennifer Ost); and Count IV: Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony.
On October 6, 2023, Johnson pleaded guilty to Count I, Count II, and Count III pursuant to a plea agreement which dismissed Count IV, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony, and limited Johnson's executed sentence to 40 years. On November 3, 2023, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Arielle Johnson to 70 years following her conviction of two counts of Dealing Resulting in Death, as Level 1 felonies, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony. Judge Dudley ordered 40 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction with 30 years suspended.
The State's case was presented Deputy Prosecutor Jesse Miller. The case was investigated by Officer Lance Blossom of the Madison County Drug Task Force.
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