Bemidji man charged with 3rd-degree murder after woman's overdose death
According to the criminal complaint, Joel Kise "did without intent to cause death, proximately caused the death of (the victim) by, directly or indirectly, unlawfully selling or delivering or distributing methamphetamine, a schedule I or II controlled substance."
The charge was filed after the property manager at the Northland Apartment building, located at 619 America Ave. NW, contacted the Bemidji Police Department on March 28, requesting a welfare check at one of the apartment units after the resident hadn't been seen by staff for several weeks.
According to the property manager, security logs showed that the resident last used her key to access the building on March 5, and security footage showed Kise leaving the resident's unit around 7 a.m. on March 5.
Law enforcement entered the unit and located the body of the resident. She appeared to have been dead for a few weeks, the complaint said.
While searching the unit, law enforcement found two bank deposit receipts from March 4, showing withdrawals of $350 and $200. Law enforcement subsequently located a container with a pipe that contained burnt residue, as well as Narcan, the complaint said.
An autopsy report performed by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman's cause of death as methamphetamine toxicity. A Facebook conversation also showed that the woman discussed purchasing methamphetamine from Kise, the complaint said.
Due to Kise's suspected involvement in the woman's death, on June 5, law enforcement acquired a post-Mirandized statement from him.
In the statement, Kise admitted that he and the woman smoked methamphetamine in her apartment unit on March 4 and 5. He also admitted that he "hooked up" the woman with methamphetamine in the past, and that the last time he sold her methamphetamine was March 4, the complaint said.
Kise's previous convictions include felony fifth-degree drug possession, felony domestic assault, felony fourth-degree assault, and several misdemeanor convictions.
Kise's initial appearance is scheduled for Monday, June 16, at the Beltrami County Courthouse.
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