Full Notification

On January 7, 2014, Lena King drove John Cleveland to Medstar St. Mary’s Hospital and reported she discovered him at the Leonardtown Wharf suffering from an apparent overdose. Detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Vice/Narcotics Division assumed the investigation and determined on January 6, 2014 Lena King and Mr. Cleveland obtained a quantity of prescription medication from an individual who resides in Leonardtown, MD. After receiving the prescription medication, Lena King prepared morphine tablets for injection and administered a quantity of the drug to Mr. Cleveland by injecting it into his body. Several hours later, Lena King, Mr. Cleveland and another subject drove to Annapolis, MD to purchase heroin. After purchasing heroin, the group returned to a residence in Leonardtown, MD at which time Lena King prepared and administered the heroin to Mr. Cleveland by injecting the drug into his body. Shortly after injecting the heroin, it became apparent John Cleveland was suffering from an overdose. Lena King fell asleep as a result of ingesting heroin and upon waking up discovered Mr. Cleveland was no longer breathing and attempted to perform CPR on him. After failing to revive Mr. Cleveland, Lena King, with assistance from others inside the residence, placed Mr. Cleveland in his vehicle so Lena King could drive him to the hospital.

Upon arrival to the hospital, medical personnel assessed John Cleveland’s condition and determined he was deceased. Mr. Cleveland’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, MD at which time an autopsy was performed. As the result of the autopsy, a determination was made that Mr. Cleveland died as a result of a heroin overdose which was administered to him by another person.

Detectives conferred with Richard Fritz, State’s Attorney for St. Mary’s County, and presented the facts of the investigation to the Grand Jury for St. Mary’s County and obtained an indictment for Lena King, subsequently charging her with Murder-2nd Degree, Involuntary Manslaughter, Reckless Endangerment, Administering Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), Distribution of CDS and Possession of CDS.

As a result of this investigation it was discovered that on October 5th, 2013, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a parking lot in the Charlotte Hall area for a report of an unconscious person. When deputies arrived they located a male victim deceased in the back seat of his vehicle. Further investigation revealed the male victim and Lena Michelle King drove to a location in Prince George’s County to purchase heroin. After purchasing heroin, the male subject and Lena King injected a portion of the heroin prior to returning to St. Mary’s County. While en route to St. Mary’s county, the male victim suffered a medical emergency and ultimately died as a result of a fatal overdose. When Lena King realized the male victim had died, she left him in his vehicle in the parking lot and called 911. Further investigation revealed prior to Lena King leaving the male victim; she removed various items of evidence from the vehicle which included drug paraphernalia and heroin. Detectives continue to work this additional investigation, as well as the original case, in conjunction with State’s Attorney Richard D. Fritz and additional charges are anticipated.