A woman charged with murder in the death of a 21-year-old who fatally overdosed in the basement of her Centennial home pleaded not guilty on Monday.
Almeda Sullivan is accused of selling prescription drugs to four people who later overdosed. The 51-year-old faces one count of first-degree murder with extreme indifference in the death of Carter Higdon, who was found dead in Sullivan’s home in October 2011.
She appeared in Arapahoe District Court for an arraignment hearing. Trial is set to begin July 6.
Sullivan allegedly sold Higdon and other young adults Opana pain pills. Opana is a narcotic painkiller similar to oxycodone.
Investigators say Sullivan sold more than 20,000 prescription pills and also taught young adults how to grind and snort the narcotics.
In January 2008, Sierra Renee Cochran, 19, died in Sullivan’s home of an accidental overdose. Nine months later, Lindsey Jo Saidy, 28, and Martynas “Tez” Simanskas, 20, died after overdosing on prescription medications. Three years later, Higdon was found dead in Sullivan’s basement.