Waukesha - Homicide charges were filed Friday against two people in a methadone overdose death in October of a 46-year-old Waukesha woman.
Nina E. Pudil, 34, of Waukesha is accused of selling liquid methadone to the victim, Nola K. Heinowski, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.
Aaron B. Schmoller, 29, of Waukesha is accused of obtaining the methadone from a clinic where he was being treated and selling it to Pudil.
Heinowski was found dead in her Elizabeth St. residence Oct. 15 after authorities received an anonymous 911 call to check on her. Detectives later learned that Pudil discovered Heinowski's body and went with a man to a pay phone, where the man dialed 911, the criminal complaint says.
Pudil and Schmoller each were charged with first-degree reckless homicide. If convicted, they face up to 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision. During separate court appearances, Commissioner Thomas J. Pieper ordered them held in lieu of $100,000.
The charges come as methadone-related deaths have been on the rise in the last several years, Waukesha County Deputy Medical Examiner Kris Klenz said.
The prescription drug is given to patients to aid them in overcoming a heroin addiction and is considered safe when administered by a licensed professional. It's also used to treat pain.
In 2007 and 2008, methadone-related deaths accounted for about 25% of all overdose deaths in Waukesha County, Klenz said.
According to the criminal complaint, Schmoller told authorities he was in the methadone program at Quality Addiction Management in Waukesha from summer 2005 to November 2008.
He received liquid doses to take home, and at some point he decided he didn't like being on methadone, the complaint says. Schmoller told authorities he began using only a portion of the methadone for himself and saved the rest, which he started selling in August after losing his job, according to the complaint.
Pudil admitted to authorities that she purchased methadone from Schmoller and sold some of it to Heinowski 10 to 15 times, the complaint says.