Two people arrested in connection with overdose death of Waynesburg man

Waynesburg police have arrested two people accused of providing a man with marijuana laced with fentanyl, resulting in his death.

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

The charges filed this week stem from the June 19 death of Taylor Lee Arthur, 25. According to the criminal complaint, Waynesburg police discovered Arthur's body along the railroad tracks near the 800 block of East Greene Street.

A woman told police that Finogle and Gump dropped off a bag of clothes belonging to Arthur at her home and on Tuesday police interviewed Gump and asked why she and Finogle were in possession of Arthur's belongings.

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

She allegedly told investigators that she and Finogle mixed marijuana with fentanyl with the intention of making Arthur smoke it to cause his overdose and death, the complaint states.

According to court documents, Arthur began tripping after smoking marijuana. 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 as of Thursday's deadline, no additional criminal charges had been filed.

Police said Finogle largely corroborated Gump's version of events, but he claimed he told Arthur the marijuana was laced with fentanyl before giving it to him.

The charges filed in Arthur's death differ from charges filed earlier this year in another overdose death.

Roy Allen Keener, 44, of Dunkard Township, was charged with both drug delivery resulting in death and a general count of criminal homicide for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced heroin to Michael Palmer, 26, of Greensboro.

The general charge of criminal homicide includes first, second and third degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and voluntary manslaughter. A conviction for first degree murder would automatically carry a life sentence.

At Keener's preliminary hearing in February, Greene County Prosecutor Brianna Vanata argued the homicide charge was justified because Keener knew the heroin was mixed and potentially deadly. She also said Palmer did not know he was receiving fentanyl.

It's unclear why Gump and Finogle aren't charged with homicide in addition to drug delivery leading to death. Vanata did not return phone calls seeking comment by Thursday's deadline.

Finogle and Gump are also charged with tampering with evidence. Both were arraigned Wednesday before District Judge David Balint, who sent them to Greene County Jail without bail.

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