Man accused in Jefferson City overdose death pleads guilty to manslaughter, sentenced 10 years

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was charged in relation to an overdose death has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, according to a press release from Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson.

Darren Thames, 30, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter and distribution of a controlled substance in the Oct. 7, 2020, overdose death of Emily Karisny, 44, the release says. Thames was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently listed on the Cole County Jail roster.

Thames was previously charged with second-degree murder and accessory to delivery of a controlled substance, according to court records and previous reporting.

The release says Karisny allegedly agreed to buy Percocet from Thames, but the pills tested positive for fentanyl. Text messages found on the victim’s phone allegedly showed the victim purchased drugs from Thames, according to previous reporting.