Sheriff’s office: Drug deal that led to death of woman was for meth worth $65 to $80
Published 12:26 pm Friday, February 15, 2019
CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Two people charged with felony murder and other crimes following the death of a woman that the Murray County sheriff said was the result of a “botched drug deal” waived court appearances on Thursday and the cases will be referred to Superior Court.
Anthony James Clark, 27, of Dalton, and Jami Brooke Johnson, 20, of Whitfield County, are each charged with felony murder, robbery and possession of meth following the death of Stasha Fay Baggett near 252 Red Cut Road. Deputies were sent to the home on Wednesday around 12:10 a.m. and found her body.
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Sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Jimmy Davenport said Thursday the incident concerned the sale of meth with an estimated street value of $65 to $80. Baggett was said to be the seller.
“There is nothing that leads us to believe that anyone else was involved,” Davenport said. “It was a dope deal that went bad. 100 percent bad.”
Davenport said Wednesday it appeared Baggett was trying to stop Clark and Johnson from leaving.
Sheriff Gary Langford said Wednesday: “I don’t know if she got run over or maybe struck a tree, but she was hanging on to the car as they were attempting to drive off. From her injuries, she was deceased when we got there. Deputies arrived and then they called for the coroner.”
Langford said Clark, the driver, left on foot. He was seen walking down a road about eight hours later and was arrested by deputies without incident.
Davenport said Thursday that Johnson at first remained on the scene but was later brought in by Whitfield County deputies.
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“She stayed for an interview when our deputies arrived and we allowed her to leave,” Davenport said. “After we developed more information we were able to bring her back in very quickly.”
Davenport said Baggett’s body has been sent for an autopsy.
Clark has pleaded guilty and been sentenced nine times in Whitfield County Superior Court dating back to when he pleaded guilty to four felony counts as a 17-year-old in 2009, according to court records. He has also previously faced criminal charges in Murray County Superior Court.
In December of last year Clark was sentenced to 90 days in jail for theft by taking and obstruction of an officer in a negotiated plea. In October of last year he was sentenced to three years with the first 20 days in jail and the rest on probation in a negotiated plea for driving while his license was suspended, possession of marijuana and possession and use of drug-related objects. That sentence also required him to “attend and comply with” drug and/or alcohol counseling and complete random drug tests “at his own expense.” In June of 2016 he was sentenced to two years in prison for felony possession of meth with the intent to distribute in a negotiated plea.
Staff writer Chris Whitfield contributed to this story.