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Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Albert Lea woman today entered not guilty pleas to third-degree murder and other charges stemming from a fatal drug overdose in the Chatfield area two years ago.

50-year-old Jeanne Penhollow was charged a year ago with supplying a lethal dose of narcotics to her sister, who was found dead in a detached garage at the family's home on February 2, 2021.

The criminal complaint says it was Pennhollow who discovered her sister dead in the garage. She told a Fillmore County Sheriff's Office investigator that she had last seen her sister alive around 1 AM with her cats in the shed outside the garage.

Police car lights in night time, crime scene, night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image.
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According to the court document, Pennhollow told an investigator she knew her sister used Oxy and family members reported the victim had significant back pain, migraines, and a history of asthma.

An autopsy determined her death was caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl and oxycodone.

About 10 months later, Fillmore County investigators were contacted by the victim's daughter who indicated she had information regarding the source of the pills that may have led to her mother's death.

The criminal complaint says the daughter showed the investigators text messages between herself and Pennhollow during which Pennhollow admitted supplying the victim with some pills the night of her death. It read, "I got a few pills for her. I have gotten them before from that person, nothing happened to anyone else. She had a few different pills."

Penhollow criminal complaint- Fillmore County Court
Penhollow criminal complaint- Fillmore County Court
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When asked by investigators about the source of the pills, the court record says Pennhollow refused to name the person and would only say that they came from "close friends and family."

The judge presiding over the case today scheduled her trial on two counts of third-degree murder and two felony charges involving drug sales to begin in the third week of June.

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