By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Linda Lou Leeper

Zachary Tyler Dustin

OXFORD — A fatal drug overdose near Lafayette has been connected to a Warsaw man.

In Benton County, Zachary Tyler Dustin, 32, 3351 E. James Way Court, Warsaw, is charged with dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a level 1 felony.

In Benton County, Benjamin Albert Elness, 33, Oxford, is charged with dealing a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony; neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor.

In Kosciusko County, Linda Lou Leeper, 59, 3351 E. James Way Court, Warsaw, is charged with possession of a narcotic drug with enhancing circumstances, a level 4 felony; and possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor.

On Aug. 25, a Benton County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to a possible drug overdose in Oxford. Benton County is northwest of Lafayette.

According to court documents, upon arrival, the deputy saw medics attempting to resuscitate an unresponsive woman, later identified as Tiara Elness.

The deputy spoke with Benjamin, Tiara’s husband, who said Tiara had used fentanyl.

Tiara was taken to a hospital and later pronounced deceased. In an interview with law enforcement, Benjamin said both he and Tiara used fentanyl and that he purchased the drugs from a man on Aug. 24.

Children were in the home at the time of the overdose and the Department of Child Services was called to the scene.

Upon taking Benjamin into custody, officers saw a partial pill in a room. Benjamin said he bought six fentanyl pills from Dustin at his Warsaw residence.

Officers also found conversations on Benjamin’s phone between Benjamin and Tiara regarding the fentanyl pills.

That same day, Kosciusko County officers received information from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department about the fatal overdose, since Dustin was believed to be in Warsaw.

A warrant for Dustin’s arrest was served at Leeper’s home, where Dustin resided. During his arrest, Dustin appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He told officers he used a lot of marijuana because he was nervous.

Upon searching the home, officers found fentanyl residue. In Leeper’s room, officers found 64 pills, identified as 7.4 grams of fentanyl. They also found marijuana and vapes.

Leeper told officers the pills belonged to her and said she took one a day. She said a person would come to the residence and drop off pills.

Leeper was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Aug. 25, with a $15,250 surety and cash bond.

Dustin was booked for the Benton County warrant in Kosciusko County on Aug. 25.