Batesville, In. — Ripley County prosecutor Ric Hertel has filled felony murder charges in connection with the overdose of Batesville resident, Rachel Walmsley, 36, in July of 2017. Her husband, Nathaniel Walmsley and James Alvin Trimnell have been charged with felony murder.

Court documents allege Trimnell delivered ½ to 1 gram of heroin to the Walmsley’s Batesville home on the afternoon of July 30. The Walmsleys were having a family barbeque that day. The report says Rachel and Nathaniel went upstairs to inject heroin around 7 p.m.

The court documents say Nathaniel shot the drug in his arm then injected Rachel. After the injections both went downstairs to smoke a cigarette.

Later, when Nathaniel looked for Rachel he found her laying on her side in the bathroom. Court documents say “Rachel seemed passed out, had a weak pulse, and shallow breathing.” Without any family members seeing, Nathaniel and his 15-year-old son carried Rachel upstairs to bed.

Eventually Nathaniel and his son took Rachel to Margaret Mary Health in Batesville. By 8:30 p.m. Batesville police were questioning family members and other witnesses. After Nathaniel gave police consent to search police found a wooden box in the bathroom closet that contained a burnt spoon and drug residue.

In August prosecutor Ric Hertel was alerted to text messages between Trimnell and Nathaniel Walmsley. The messages confirmed that Trimnell was to bring the drugs in exchange for $100. Trimnell told police he bought drugs off the Mt. Healthy exit in the Cincinnati area.

Ric Hertel said he is using Indiana Code 35-42-1-1. The code says muder charges can be filed against one who knowingly or intentionally kills another human being with Schedule I, II or II drug. Hertel acknowledges this will be a ground breaking case in the fight against opioids. If convicted the two men could receive 45 to 65 years.