Man Suspected of Involvement in Drug Overdose Death in Wausau Appears in Court

Monday, March 11th, 2024 -- 6:00 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A man suspected of providing the drugs that led to a fatal overdose in 2020 is finally in custody.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, court records show Otha Franklin is being held on a $100,000 bond. Charges against him include reckless homicide through the delivery of drugs and manufacturing or delivering heroin.

Investigators say the victim and Franklin were snorting pills together in July of 2020 when the man started having a seizure. When a third person asked if they should call for help, Franklin said no because it was likely due to a combination of heroin and ecstasy in the pills.

Franklin left the party the next morning. Another person found the victim unresponsive but breathing and called for help. The victim died from a toxic mix of drugs, according to an autopsy.

The 45-year-old is also facing several felony bail jumping charges. He is also the subject of several other open cases for possession of cocaine, obstructing an officer, possession of a stolen firearm, and burglary. Those cases will proceed alongside the reckless homicide case.

Franklin was taken into custody in Milwaukee County and transferred to Wausau on Monday. He did not immediately appear in court for medical reasons but did make an initial appearance on Thursday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 18th and a pre-trial conference will follow three days later.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.