After the crackdown: Defendants avoid homicide convictions

These are the drug-induced homicide cases involving Madison and St. Clair county victims filed by metro-east prosecutors since a crackdown on overdoses was announced last year:

FEDERAL

Victim: Donnie T. Bauman, 22, of Fairview Heights, died of a morphine overdose Dec. 21, 2010.

Defendant: Joseph L. Robinson, 29, of Fairview Heights, is awaiting trial on a charge of distribution of heroin resulting in death.

Victim: Tyler McKinney, 19, of O'Fallon, died of a morphine overdose Feb. 23, 2011.

Defendant: Federal prosecutors are attempting to have Richard J. Klemis, 39, extradited from a prison in Great Britain to face single counts of distribution of heroin resulting in death, distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to distribute and posses with intent to distribute heroin, four counts of distribution of heroin to a person younger than 21 years old, possession of heroin and use of a person younger than 18 years old in a drug operation.

MADISON COUNTY

Victim: Shannon Gaddis, 17, of Troy, died of a heroin overdose Jan. 11, 2011.

Defendant: Taylor Kennedy, 21, of Troy, was acquitted of drug-induced homicide May 10. Madison County Associate Judge James Hackett ruled the charge could not apply in Kennedy's case because he allegedly provided the heroin to Gaddis in Missouri, and not in Illinois as required by the law.

Victim: Benjamin Berkenbile, 27, of Worden, died of a heroin overdose April 12, 2011.

Defendant: A charge of drug-induced homicide was dismissed against Angela Halliday, 28, of Bethalto, following Hackett's ruling in Kennedy's case. Halliday, who was also charged in Joshua Rogers' overdose, received three four-year prison terms to be served concurrently and four years probation after pleading guilty to four counts of unlawful delivery of Xanax.

Victim: Joshua Rogers, 30, of East Alton, died of a heroin overdose May 10, 2011.

Defendants: Madison County prosecutors dropped drug-induced homicide charges against Halliday, Adam C. Butler, 42, of north St. Louis County, and Brian Beckham, 32, of East Alton, following Hackett's ruling in Kennedy's case. No new charges were brought against Butler. Beckham pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of heroin with intent to deliver and received two years of probation.

Victim: Shannon Barton, 33, of South Roxana, died of a heroin overdose Aug. 25, 2011.

Defendant: Curtis T. Buchanan, 36, of north St. Louis County, was charged with drug-induced homicide and trafficking cocaine but so far has evaded arrest.

Victim: William J. Smith, 48, of Granite City, died of a fentanyl overdose Nov. 29, 2011.

Defendants: Becky Chandler, 31, and Cory Armbruster, 30, both of Granite City, are awaiting trial on charges of drug-induced homicide and unlawful delivery of fentanyl.

Victim: Gail R. Trexler, 48, of Maryville, died of a heroin overdose Jan. 1.

Defendant: Brian Petty, 33, of Caseyville, is awaiting trial on a charge of drug-induced homicide.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY

No drug-induced homicide charges have been filed.

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