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Thursday, March 16, 2023

Woman sentenced for providing drugs in overdose death case

A 28-year-old Guernsey County woman received a prison sentence of eight to 12 years Wednesday in the overdose death of 44-year-old Andy Marshall.

Shelbie Mourer previously pleaded guilty to a prosecutor’s bill of information containing one first-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter, one fifth-degree felony count of trafficking drugs and one third-degree felony count of tampering with evidence.

Prior to sentencing, the victim’s father had the opportunity to address the judge regarding the loss of his son.

“He was worldly. He was smart. But most of all, he was kind,” Marshall’s father said.

He further explained that his son traveled the world growing up in an Air Force home. Marshall was fluent in German, a student of history, an accomplished artist and illustrator and just one semester away from finishing his Bachelor’s degree.

“He wanted to get married. He wanted kids,” the victim’s father said. “All of those dreams died with him.”

Marshall’s father told the Court that his son’s biggest regret was falling into addiction, but he was climbing out of his disease and was happy and proud of his recovery.

Then in September, Marshall didn’t come home from work. His family reported him missing the next morning and went searching only for the victim’s mother to find him at Dillon State Park, dead in the backseat of his own car.

“This vision will haunt her for the rest of her life,” Marshall’s father said.

According to detectives with the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, witness statements placed a woman with Marshall leading up to his death. Phone records investigated by detectives determined Marshall had recently transferred money to Shelbie Mourer for a total of $120 over four transactions.

Using search warrants, Detective Brady Hittle of the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office traced Mourer’s phone to places where Marshall was known to be.

Mourer was located and interviewed on Sept. 15.

She admitted to providing crack cocaine to Marshall in exchange for the Cash App payments. Mourer further admitted that she obtained the drugs from another dealer.

Mourer told detectives that she met Marshall and provided him the drugs and materials needed to smoke crack. Mourer and Marshall then drove separately to Dillon State Park where Marshall began to overdose in his car. Mourer admitted to packing up her belongings and leaving Marshall behind.

“She abandoned him to die alone,” Marshall’s father said. “She selfishly ran off. She was thoughtless, heartless and cruel.”

The victim’s father added that it’s something his son never would have done.

“Apologies in court are hollow,” Judge Kelly Cottrill told Mourer. “Your actions that night show who you are, and that is why you are being sentenced today.”

After Mourer was captured, detectives continued their investigation, leading to the arrest and conviction of her dealer, Richard McCree.

McCree faces a sentence of eight to 12 years for corrupting another with drugs, 18 months for trafficking cocaine and another 18 months for violating the terms of his sexual offender registration. He will be sentenced at a later date.

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