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Woman admits to role in overdose death
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman who admitted in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court her role in a man’s overdose death in July from heroin told a judge she knows she can meet the same fate if she does not stop taking drugs.
“You understand you’re going to die? That’s the reality of this story,” Judge Lou D’Apolito told Marisha Robinson, 27, of McCartney Road.
“Yes,” Robinson answered Thursday.
Robinson pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and permitting felony drug abuse for the July 20 death of Matthew Godfrey, age not given, in a home in the 2000 block of McCartney Road on the East Side she shared with her co-defendant, Jessie Kellum, 28.
The judge will sentence her Jan. 19.
Robinson has been in the county jail since she was arrested Sept. 27 after a grand jury returned a secret indictment against her and Kellum for the death of Godfrey, who died of a heroin overdose.
Part of the plea agreement calls for her to receive probation and to be released from jail, but she must testify against Kellum, who has a trial set for Monday.
Godfrey’s mother was in court during the proceedings, crying occasionally. She wore a button with a picture of her son on her dress.
Prosecutors did not say what role Robinson had in Godfrey’s death, but they did say she did not sell, supply or administer the dose of heroin that killed Godfrey.
When asked by the judge, Robinson said she had been abusing heroin for two years and is the mother of three children, who are all with their father. She said she has never received any treatment for her addiction. Her recent stint in the jail is the longest she has ever been clean.
Judge D’Apolito said he was concerned Robinson would relapse and not be available Monday. Her attorney, Ed Hartwig, said she will be staying with her grandfather. The judge barred her from leaving her grandfather’s home until Monday and barred all visitors as well.
The judge said if Robinson breaks any of those rules, she will be in jail and in danger of violating the agreed-upon sentence in her plea bargain.
“I’d rather have you in jail so you’re still alive,” Judge D’Apolito said.