Show-Me State Times

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk has sentenced Garry W. Triplett to 16 years in prison for supplying the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a St. Francois County jail inmate. Triplett, aged 38, provided drugs including fentanyl to Timothy L. Noll, a 35-year-old inmate from Park Hills, Missouri.

Noll had arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, and instructed an intermediary to obtain drugs from Triplett and hide them inside a Bible. Triplett supplied at least three grams each of fentanyl and methamphetamine with the intention that Noll would sell them within the facility.

On August 2, upon learning he was being transferred to state prison and unable to take the Bible with him, Noll arranged for jail staff to give it to his cellmate. The cellmate died two days later from mixed drug intoxication, which included a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Triplett admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Similarly, Noll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting.

The investigation was conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone prosecuted the case.