A Bartow man faces first-degree murder charges after selling cocaine that led to a woman’s fatal overdose in September 2024.
Troy Cortez Walker, 48, was indicted by a grand jury on Aug. 14 on charges of first-degree murder related to the death of 65-year-old Irene Anderson of Bartow. He was arrested in October and remains in jail on no bond.
Sheriff Grady Judd, speaking at a morning news conference on Aug. 15, said Walker was part of a larger heavy-duty drug trafficking ring that was operating out of Bartow. Judd said more details about the investigation would be released next week.
On Sept. 7, 2024, Walker sold cocaine to Anderson who died shortly after while consuming it, Judd said. The woman had gotten up, got dressed for church and in the process took cocaine, then stepped out her door and collapsed.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation had a wire tap that intercepted conversation between Walker and other parties indicating they sold her the cocaine, Judd said.
On Oct. 25, the sheriff’s office wrapped up its wire investigation resulting in the arrest of Walker and approximately 41 other individuals, centered around Bartow.
In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Walker faces six felony counts of conspiracy to sell cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to sell oxycodone and a felony charge of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Bartow man faces murder charge related to woman’s cocaine death in 2024
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
