North Dakota man sentenced for murder in overdose death of teenage girl

MINOT, N.D. — A decide sentenced a Minot man to 30 years in jail, with 15 years suspended, on a homicide cost for capturing up a 16-year-old lady with a mix of meth and fentanyl, inflicting her to overdose and die.

Mark Anthony Rodgers Jr., 34, appeared in a North Central Judicial District courtroom in Minot on Friday, July 22, for his sentencing within the loss of life of the lady, referred to solely as “Jane Doe.”

In response to courtroom paperwork, Rodgers injected the lady on the afternoon of Dec. 14, 2020, in a room on the Minot Days Inn.

When she turned unconscious, as an alternative of calling 911, Rodgers referred to as a number of mates, asking them to convey Narcan to reverse the overdose.

A kind of mates got here with Narcan and administered it, and advised Rodgers to name 911 however Rodgers refused and fled.

The buddy referred to as police and once they arrived on the lodge, he was doing CPR on the sufferer, who was pronounced lifeless round 3:30 p.m., about an hour after the buddy obtained the decision from Rodgers.

In March of this yr, Rodgers pleaded responsible to a few felonies: homicide, tampering with bodily proof and sustaining a premises for the use, storage or sale of managed substances. He additionally pleaded responsible to a misdemeanor rely of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The homicide cost carried a most attainable sentence of life in jail with out parole.

On Friday, Decide Stacy Louser sentenced Rodgers to 30 years in jail, to serve 15 years.

Ward County State’s Legal professional Rozanna Larson stated an 85% rule applies, which means Rodgers should serve 12.75 years earlier than he could be eligible for parole.

Rodgers confronted a felony cost of corruption of a minor, as he initially had been accused of getting intercourse with the lady. However that rely was dismissed on Friday.

In courtroom, Decide Louser requested Rodgers if he had something to say, to which he replied, “I simply really feel actual sorry for what occurred. Loads of poor selections have been made that day. I want I’d have performed quite a bit higher.”

In handing down the sentence, Louser cited Rodgers’ lack of regret or empathy for what he’d performed and stated he’d violated the fundamental sense of decency in a law-abiding society.

“When Jane Doe wanted you, you ran,” Louser stated. “A number of witnesses confirmed you didn’t attempt to assist her.”

Police stated the lady’s relations traveled from New City, North Dakota, the day of her loss of life to determine her physique.

New City is on the Fort Berthold reservation, which is residence to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

Larson stated a number of of the sufferer’s relations have been in courtroom Friday, together with her mom and grandmother and others who reside out of state listened to the sentencing by cellphone.

Rodgers additionally faces expenses associated to his time within the Ward County Jail for the reason that lady’s loss of life, together with possession of a managed substance whereas incarcerated.

His legal professional Steve Mottinger advised the decide he hoped to get that matter resolved Friday, however the decide stated that will be handled at a later date.