Columbia man charged with 2nd-degree murder after overdose investigation

EDITOR'S NOTE: The spelling of the suspect's name has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A September 2020 overdose investigation leads to charges of 2nd-degree murder for a Columbia man already in custody.

Columbia police began the investigation on Sept. 4, 2020 after they responded to a 29-year-old man in cardiac arrest. While on scene, police found evidence the victim overdosed on a narcotic.

Police then found the victim's phone and lead to a conversation with the man alleged drug dealer. The drug dealer admitted selling heroin to the victim. A few days later, Kennis Shepperd-Dickson was arrested for drug trafficking and admitted to selling to the drug dealer according to court documents.

According to court documents, a Columbia police detective says that there is probable cause to believe the heroin purchased from Shepperd-Dickson was the drug that killed the victim.

Shepperd-Dickson is charged with 2nd-degree murder, delivery of a controlled substance, 2nd-degree drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance.

The court denied Shepperd-Dickson bond.

Shepperd-Dickson next court date is next Tuesday and then on Feb. 16.