Bennington woman charged in fentanyl overdose death | The Bennington Banner

Tiffany Tan, Bennington Banner

BENNINGTON — A 50-year-old local woman has pleaded not guilty to providing fentanyl to another woman who died of the drug in January.

Beth Brace is charged with selling or dispensing a regulated drug in Bennington that resulted in the death of Dawn Bossong, 51. The felony offense carries a possible penalty of 2 to 20 years in prison.

Bossong lost consciousness while riding in a friend’s vehicle shortly after snorting one or two pills allegedly obtained from Brace, according to documents filed at the Bennington County Superior Court Criminal Division. She was taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center then airlifted to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center the following day when she didn’t regain consciousness.

An autopsy conducted by the Albany County Coroner’s Office found that Bossong died “due to the effects of fentanyl,” reads a sworn statement by Det. Cpl. Christopher Lauzon of the Bennington Police Department. Fentanyl, an opioid painkiller, is a regulated drug.

The owner of the vehicle in which Bossong lost consciousness, Melissa Brown, told investigators that she drove Bossong to a Bennington mobile home park to pick up one or two pills from a woman called “Beth” late in the afternoon of Jan. 29.

“Brown said Bossong crushed and inhaled one or two pills while riding in her vehicle,” the police affidavit states. After the women picked up another person, “Bossong became unresponsive.”

When police interviewed Brace, she acknowledged being prescribed pain medication. She admitted Bossong went to her home looking for drugs on Jan. 29, but denied selling the woman anything.

“I didn’t sell nobody nothing,” Brace was quoted as saying.

Police said a search of Bossong’s and Brace’s cellphones showed the women had been texting each other about an hour before Bossong lost consciousness. Police believe that a common friend of theirs arranged the drug purchase.

Judge William Cohen on Thursday allowed Brace to remain free on a $20,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 15; she is being represented by attorney Thomas Enzor.

Earlier in the day that Bossong lost consciousness, police had coincidentally spoken to her about an unrelated case in New York. She admitted previously abusing prescription medication following a back injury, but said she had undergone drug rehabilitation.

Tiffany Tan can be reached at ttan@benningtonbanner.com, @tiffgtan at Twitter and 802-447-7567 ext. 122.