Wisconsin woman charged with third-degree murder in Duluth teen's overdose

DULUTH — A Superior, Wisconsin, woman is charged with third-degree murder after an 18-year-old woman died of a fentanyl overdose June 18.

Allyson Rose Sheffield, 20, was booked Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the St. Louis County Jail and remotely appeared in State District Court on Friday, Dec. 22. She is also charged with felony third-degree sale of narcotics.

Court records show Duluth police responded June 18 to an overdose at 721 1/2 E. Fifth St., Duluth. An 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A small blue pill with “M30” imprinted on it was found next to her body, as well as a small baggie containing a crushed blue pill. The pills tested positive for fentanyl. In the autopsy, the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death as fentanyl toxicity.

According to court documents, a search warrant executed on the victim’s Facebook account showed she was communicating with Sheffield on June 17 and asked Sheffield if she could “front one” — give her a fentanyl pill until she could pay Sheffield later. Sheffield agreed, and the victim requested three.

The pills were allegedly delivered to the victim’s home mailbox. Sheffield sent the victim a message that read, “yeah, just be careful,” to which the victim responded, “Always.”

According to the police department’s review of Facebook conversations, Sheffield was regularly selling pills to the victim.

Judge Nicole Hopps set bail at $150,000. Sheffield’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 22.

Katie Rohman is the managing editor of the Duluth News Tribune and Cloquet Pine Journal. She started with Duluth Media Group in 2017 as regional editor of the Superior Telegram, Pine Journal, Lake County News-Chronicle, Eastern Observer and Western Weekly. She has worked in newspapers around the Midwest since 2004.