Third-degree murder suspect pleads not guilty

Published 10:15 am Friday, May 13, 2016

A 20-year-old Austin man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Mower County Court to a third-degree murder charge tied to a heroin overdose.

Jordan David Flugum

Jordan David Flugum

Jordan David Flugum is accused of selling drugs to a 20-year-old who died of a heroin overdose.

Around 12:43 p.m. on March 27, Austin police responded to a report that a 20-year-old man had died, according to court records. They confirmed he was a heroin user and that he used heroin three days earlier.

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The victim had arrived at a relative’s house at about 9 p.m. the previous night, but he was falling asleep and showing signs he was not capable of riding his bike home. The relative walked him back to another relative’s home and told him he needed treatment, according to court records.

Officers located two capped syringes in the victim’s right coat pocket and two needle-track marks on the victim’s right, inner elbow.

The autopsy lists the cause of death as “acute heroin and methamphetamine toxicity.”

On May 2, officers interviewed Flugum, who said the victim contacted him on Facebook looking for heroin. The victim offered a 55-inch smart TV in exchange for the heroin, which initially he was going to pawn for cash, but the pawn shops closed at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Flugum asked his dealer if he would agree to the exchange and he did.

Flugum met the runner in Austin and said he didn’t recognize the runner, but Flugum and the victim loaded the TV into the runner’s car.

The runner gave Flugum about one gram of heroin, with a street value of about $200, which Flugum then gave to the victim.

According to court records, the victim and Flugum then used heroin in the car. Later, Flugum reportedly went to a house in northeast Austin, where the victim showed signs of an overdose but recovered enough to go home. Flugum and another man reportedly took his remaining heroin and told him not to drive, according to court records.

Flugum told officers he thought the victim used about a quarter gram of heroin on March 26. He also agreed with the small amount the victim had left, he would not need to use again until at least the next morning. Flugum said the victim also told him he did meth before exchanging the TV.

Officers met with the other man later on May 2 and the man confirmed Flugum’s account of March 26. Flugum was taken into custody on March 27.

This is the second heroin-related murder charge in Mower County this year. Ryan Allen Anderson, 23, was charged in March with similar charges.

Flugum’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 16 for a pre-trial and Sept. 26 for a jury trial.