Indianapolis woman arrested in connection with fatal 2023 drug overdose in New Palestine – The Daily Reporter

HANCOCK COUNTY – After a nearly year-long police investigation into a fatal drug overdose in the county, officials with the New Palestine Police Department say an Indianapolis woman is in police custody and will be charged in the cause of her death.

Stephanie J. Schofield, 38, was officially arrested by the NPPD this weekend. She was charged with a Level 1 felony count of dealing with a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 6 felony count of obstruction of justice and a Class A misdemeanor count of giving false information after the case was officially filed in Hancock County Superior Court late last year It opened 1 week.

According to NPPD officers, on October 19, 2023, NPPD officers were dispatched to the 4500 block of South 500W in New Palestine for a welfare check.

The caller, Schofield, who fled the scene, reported that a possible medical emergency was occurring at the apartment. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim, later identified as Jerry Moore II, unresponsive and without a pulse.

Officers and rescue workers attempted life-saving measures on the victim. Moore was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The autopsy results would show that Moore died of a drug overdose.

After a nearly 10-month investigation that included social media records and cell phone data, an arrest warrant was issued for the caller, Schofield, who is currently being held in the Hancock County Jail awaiting her initial arraignment.

Officers stated in a probable cause affidavit that they found drug paraphernalia in the home as well as drug residue that field tests showed to be cocaine. According to the affidavit, Schofield told police in an interview that she was on the phone with Moore II when he appeared to pass out and that she called “ambulance” because she didn't have enough gas to get to his house.

The affidavit said she told police it had been a few weeks since she had been at Moore's house. However, police showed her “ping” phone information that showed her phone was in the driveway at Moore's home on the day of his death.

Schofield then admitted to police that she was at Moore's house that evening having a drink before he was found to be unresponsive. The affidavit says she told police she fell asleep in a chair that night and when she woke up to go to the bathroom, she found Moore II lifeless on the bathroom floor. Schofield then told police she “freaked out,” left and then called for help.

She then told police a friend gave Moore II a painkiller, which he took along with some alcohol they had drunk that night.

However, police discovered they had Internet messages from Moore II asking Schofield for painkillers. In the affidavit, officers noted that they searched Schofield's phone and found messages from the two about cocaine and heroin, including a statement that she had the “street version.”

Officers' autopsy of Moore II, mentioned in the report, determined the cause of death was “combined cocaine and fentanyl intoxication.”