Full Notification

On February 25, 2013 at approximately 4:37 a.m., Green Bay Police and Fire personnel were dispatched to a call of a 26 year-old male who was believed to be pulse-less and not breathing at 111 South Platten St., Apartment #205. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and was identified as Matthew Odea, a tenant of the apartment. Mr. Odea’s live-in girlfriend, Rachel C Bartell, 22 YOA, was in the apartment and was the person who called for assistance. Officers noticed several items of drug paraphernalia in the apartment and indications of possible heroin usage and a death investigation was initiated and completed by our department with the assistance of the Drug Task Force.

Evidence obtained during the investigation, including numerous interviews completed during the last month, has led to five subjects being charged in Odea’s death. Currently there are three subjects in custody and being charged with 1st Degree Reckless Homicide for delivering the drugs that caused his death. Others may be charged with this charge as the investigation continues. Two others have been arrested for other drug charges related information discovered during this investigation. The subjects and their charges are:

Courtney R Burke (19 YOA – Green Bay)
1st Degree Reckless Homicide/Deliver Drugs 940.02(2)(a)
Possession of Narcotic Drugs 961.41(3g)(am)
Possess drug paraphernalia 961.573(1)

Brittany M Mefford (23 YOA – Green Bay)
1st Degree Reckless Homicide/Deliver Drugs 940.02(2)(a)
Dylan M Vorpahl (19 YOA – Town of Scott)
1st Degree Reckless Homicide/Deliver Drugs 940.02(2)(a)
Possession of Narcotic Drugs 961.41(3g)(am)
Possess drug paraphernalia 961.573(1)

Rachel C Bartell (22 YOA – Green Bay)
Manufacturing/Deliver Heroin 961.41(1)(d)1
Maintain Drug Trafficking Place 961.42(1)
Possess/illegally obtained prescription 450.11(7)(h)
Possess drug paraphernalia 961.573(1)

Brianna L Lancour (20 YOA – Sobieski)
Manufacturing/Deliver Heroin 961.41(1)(d)1
According to the Brown County Medical Examiner’s Office there were 12 Deaths in 2012 where Heroin was found in the victims system, and so far two deaths in 2013. The impact of Heroin on our community is growing. The death of Mr. Odea is another example of the most traumatic of these.

We are aware that this is a problem affecting the health and safety of our community, and are in the planning stages of creating a partnership of public and private stakeholders to address this problem. We are identifying those agencies and people to join the initiative who will help us come up with responses to mitigate this problem. This initiative is in the planning stages and more information will be release on it in the future.

See next nixle for the photo on Courtney Burke