Man Facing Charges From Allegedly Dealing Drugs Resulting in Death
Man Facing Charges From Allegedly Dealing Drugs Resulting in Death
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Man Facing Charges From Allegedly Dealing Drugs Resulting in DeathA Milford man was arrested on drug charges after a woman allegedly died after taking drugs he sold her.
Jay Lynn Krauter, 53, of 207 S. West St., Milford, is charged with dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony; possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony; possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday on a $101,000 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Oct. 28, the Milford Police Department responded to a death investigation at a residence in Milford. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with someone who found Laini Roberts, 28, dead in her bedroom. The officer spoke to a woman who said she had previously seen Roberts alive at 10 p.m. the day before and found her dead at about 6:51 a.m.
The woman had located a small plastic Ziploc bag in Roberts’ living area, along with $400. The officer took the bag containing a white powder into evidence. The woman also provided the officer with Roberts’ cell phone and provided consent to search the contents of the phone.
During a follow-up interview with Kemp, the officer learned Roberts said on Oct. 27 that a friend, later identified as Krauter, was stopping by. At the time, the woman didn’t know Krauter’s last name but said Roberts said he was only at the residence for five to 10 minutes.
On Oct. 27, the communication between Roberts and Krauter started at 7:26 p.m. and ended at 7:56 p.m.
Another Milford officer spoke to a man who said he received photos of a message string between Roberts and Krauter. The man provided the photos of the message string to police.
The man said he went over to Krauter’s residence and spoke to him and saw drug items all over the room and on a small table, according to court documents.
On Oct. 28, an officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for Krauter’s residence. At Krauter’s residence, the officer located seven small plastic Ziploc-style bags with residue that were the same size and color as the bag at Roberts’ residence; one pink plastic Ziploc bag; one metal container containing two syringes, one glass smoking pipe and four small ziploc bags; one digital scale with residue; and miscellaneous aluminum foil, glass smoking pipes and burnt aluminum foil, according to court documents.
On Oct. 28, a forensic pathologist conducted an autopsy on Roberts and ruled the cause of death as intoxication by acetylfentanyl, fentanyl and xylazine. A drug screen indicated the drugs were in Roberts’ system.
On Dec. 3, Krauter agreed to speak with law enforcement. Krauter said on Oct. 27, he was driving a car and was communicating with Roberts. He said he told Roberts he was going to go over and bring heroin. Krauter said Roberts used the heroin he gave her and he took money from her.
On June 3, an officer conducted a field test on the bag that was collected from Roberts’ residence on Oct. 28. The substance in the bag tested positive for fentanyl.
Krauter was previously convicted of visiting a common nuisance in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Feb. 6, 2020. He was also convicted of possession of methamphetamine in the Elkhart County Court System on Jan. 8, 2014. He was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more in the Kosciusko County court system on Nov. 26, 2012. He was also convicted of possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug in the Elkhart County court system on May 26, 2004.
