Two people arrested in connection with Waynesburg man’s overdose death

Waynesburg police have arrested two people accused of giving a man marijuana laced with fentanyl, causing his death.

Jake Anthony Finogle, 24, and Tiffany Lee Gump, 28, of Waynesburg, each face charges of drug delivery resulting in death.

The charges filed this week stem from the death of 25-year-old Taylor Lee Arthur on June 19. According to the indictment, Waynesburg police discovered Arthur’s body along railroad tracks near the 800 block of East Greene Street.

A woman told police that Finogle and Gump left a bag of Arthur’s clothes at her home. On Tuesday, police questioned Gump and asked her why she and Finogle were in possession of Arthur’s belongings.

Gump initially told police they took the items from the crime scene after police discovered Arthur’s body. When investigators said that was impossible because police had already thoroughly searched the crime scene, Gump allegedly confessed to being involved in Arthur’s death.

She allegedly told investigators that she and Finogle had mixed fentanyl into the marijuana with the intention of getting Arthur to smoke it and thus cause an overdose and death, the indictment states.

After Arthur smoked the marijuana, he began to stumble, court documents say. Gump told police they placed a pillow and blanket under him and left the scene.

Gump also named a third person involved in the case, but no further charges had been filed by Thursday’s deadline.

According to police, Finogle largely confirmed Gump’s version of events, but claimed he told Arthur the marijuana was laced with fentanyl before giving it to him.

The charges in Arthur’s death are different from those filed earlier this year in connection with another overdose death.

Roy Allen Keener, 44, of Dunkard Township, was charged with drug trafficking resulting in death and general manslaughter for allegedly selling heroin laced with fentanyl to 26-year-old Michael Palmer of Greensboro.

The general charge of manslaughter includes first-, second-, and third-degree murder, manslaughter, and voluntary manslaughter. A conviction of first-degree murder would automatically result in a life sentence.

At Keener’s preliminary hearing in February, Greene County District Attorney Brianna Vanata argued the manslaughter charge was justified because Keener knew the heroin was adulterated and potentially deadly. She also said Palmer did not know he was getting fentanyl.

It is unclear why Gump and Finogle are not charged with manslaughter in addition to drug trafficking resulting in death. Vanata did not return calls seeking comment by Thursday’s deadline.

Finogle and Gump also face charges of tampering with evidence. Both were arraigned Wednesday before District Judge David Balint, who remanded them to the Greene County Jail without bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 10 at 1:30 p.m.