Hastings Man Charged With Murder In Woman's Fatal Drug Overdose

HASTINGS, MN — A 41-year-old Hastings man is accused of providing heroin that caused a fatal drug overdose in July. Jason M. Slattum faces one count of murder in the third degree in the death of Michelle Cahill.

On July 11, Hastings police responded at 5:15 a.m. to a medical emergency at an apartment complex. They found Cahill on the floor next to the bed.

She was unconscious, not breathing and did not have a pulse, police said. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful, police said, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy found that Cahill's death was the result of mixed drug toxicity that included heroin, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, authorities said.

The woman's husband told police that he and his wife purchased heroin from a person known as "Jay" in Eagan the night of July 10, according to a criminal complaint. Jay was later identified as Slattum, police said.

The husband told police that after they took some of the heroin, he woke up to his wife unconscious and called 911.

Cahill's cell phone confirmed text messages to Slattum setting up the heroin purchase, the complaint states. His phone was tracked to Rosemount, and he was arrested Tuesday, authorities said.

Slattum told investigators he had sold Cahill a half gram of heroin for $50 the last time they met, according to the complaint.

"On behalf of law enforcement, we express our sympathy to the family and friends of Michelle Cahill for their loss," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a news release.

"Overdose deaths from heroin, particularly when laced with fentanyl, are far too common, and this problem has been escalating in recent months."

Slattum made his first court appearance Thursday. Bail was set at $500,000 without conditions, and $300,000 with conditions.