A St. James man has been charged with felony second degree murder following a LANEG Drug Task Force investigation that implicated him in an October 2020 drug overdose death in Maries County.

Tanner Orr, 25, St. James, has been charged with second degree murder and felony delivery of controlled substance by Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony “Tony” Skouby.

Sheriff Chris Heitman reported LANEG officers and Maries County Sheriff’s Office deputies followed up on the opioid overdose death on Oct. 12, 2020 of Kevin Ahart, 29, St. James. The sheriff said the officers obtained incriminating evidence leading to the suspected source of the deadly fentanyl that resulted in Ahart’s death.

Orr, the suspect, was located on April 28 and was interviewed about the overdose death. Following the interview he was and placed on a 24-hour hold. The prosecutor filed the two felony charges and Orr remains in the Maries County Jail on a no bond warrant.

In the fall of 2020, law enforcement and EMS were called to Ahart’s residence twice. The first time he overdosed he was brought back with Narcan and refused ambulance transport. The second time law enforcement responded, on Oct. 12, 2020, Ahart was dead from a drug overdose. 

At that time, Sheriff Heitman admitted to being frustrated by so many overdose deaths from opioids, the pain it causes family members, and the need for rehab. 

Last week, Sheriff Heitman put out a warning to drug dealers: “If you make the mistake and sell drugs in Maries County, and as a result of that, someone dies, my deputies will hunt you down. And, our prosecutor will charge you with murder.”