DA: Drug Dealer Convicted in Woman's Overdose Death

A Knoxville man will spend at least three decades behind bars after being convicted in the death of a woman who died of a drug overdose.

A jury convicted Kenyon Demario Reynolds, 43, of Second Degree Murder, Sale and Delivery of

Heroin in a Drug Free School Zone, Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Heroin in a Drug Free School Zone, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

According to prosecutors, Knoxville police officers were called to a home in West Hills on July 3, 2015, to investigate the overdose death of a 30-year-old woman. Investigators determined the last person to have contact with the victim was Justin Lee.

Investigator Phil Jinks interviewed Lee, and confiscated his phone. At that time, Reynolds contacted Lee on the phone and told him to check his mailbox. When Jinks went to the mailbox, he found a half gram of heroin.

Lee agreed to work with investigators, and arranged with Reynolds to buy two grams of heroin for $360. Reynolds agreed, and dropped of the drugs in exchange for the money in a mailbox. Officers arrested Reynolds after a brief chase.

Investigators searched Reynolds' home and found an additional fourteen grams of heroin, $44,000, a firearm, and a grinder and press used to cut heroin.

“This drug dealer profited from the addiction of a member of our community who paid the ultimate price for that addiction,” said DA Charme Allen. “Because of the conviction in this case, countless more lives were saved.”

Reynolds, who has eleven prior felony convictions for assault, firearm, and drug dealing offenses in Georgia and North Carolina, will be sentenced on April 27.

https://www.wbir.com/mobile/article/news/crime/da-drug-dealer-convicted-in-womans-overdose-death/51-533219381