By Beth Alston

AMERICUS — As a result of an investigation, local authorities have charged a local man with felony murder.

Americus Police Chief Mark Scott issued a press release Friday morning with details. At around 5:17 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 officers of the Americus Police Department responded to a residence in the 700 block of Wheatley Street to a report of an unconscious person.

When they arrived, officers found the body of 27-year-old Tiffany Marie Matice, dead of an apparent drug overdose.

Following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, Michael Eugene Newell, 31, of 266 LaCross Road, Lot 19, Americus was charged with felony murder “for felonious actions that led to the death” of Matice. Chief Scott said that Newell has been arrested in Cordele on unrelated charges and transferred to Sumter County Friday morning, and charged and jailed.

Newell is currently being housed in the Sumter County Jail. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional charges may be pending.

Lewis Lamb, District Attorney for the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, told the Times-Recorder on Friday afternoon, “In any overdose case, if we can prove the connection between the death and drugs provided by any particular person, we will look at it as a felony murder and prosecute it to the limit of the law.”

Police are asking for the public’s help. If anyone with additional information related to this investigation is asked to call the Americus Police Department at 229-924-3677 or after business hours at 229-937-9011.