Two Charged After Calvert City Overdose Death

Two men are facing felony drug charges, and one of them has been charged with manslaughter in the recent overdose death of a Calvert City man.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office says Calvert City Police officers responded to a home on South Main Street on the evening of March 14, after getting a report of two unresponsive males. They arrived to find 18-year-old Karson and 23-year-old Taylor May unconscious inside the home. Officers administered first aid, but Taylor May passed away at the home. Karson May was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Officers collected what they believed to be illegal drugs, paraphernalia, and other evidence while at the home. They questioned several people, and learned that the two men had overdosed on the synthetic drug U-47700 (commonly known as U4 or Pink on the street) the night before. U-47700 is an analgesic synthetic drug reported to be about 7.5 times as potent as morphine.

Detectives' investigation led them to  23-year-old Thomas "Jared" Hardin of McCracken County. Hardin was later arrested at work by Marshall County Sheriff's Detectives. He was booked into the McCracken County Jail on trafficking in a synthetic drug and 2nd degree manslaughter charges. Deputies say they believe Hardin provided Taylor May with the U4 that is believed to have ultimately led to his death. 

Detectives later executed a search warrant at the home of 25-year-old Jevan Sheppard on Connector Street just outside of Draffenville, and seized what they believed to be more U-47700 packaged for sale, other drugs, a digital scale, a drug ledger and several loaded firearms.

Sheppard was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in a synthetic drug and one count of firearm enhanced trafficking in a synthetic drug. Deputies said they believe that Sheppard sold Hardin the drugs, who then sold them to Mays. They also seized $20,000 from Sheppard believed to be proceeds of illegal drug sales.

Detectives say more charges and arrests are possible.