3 arrested in November overdose death

5/26/2010

By David Avitabile

3 arrested in November overdose death

Three women were arrested last week on charges of sale of controlled substances which resulted in the death of a Middleburgh woman last November.
On November 10, 2009, Ashley Disbury, 26, of Main Street, Middleburgh was found unresponsive in her home, said the Loudonville State Police.
Ms. Disbury, the mother of a three-week-old daughter, was taken to Cobleskill Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead from an overdose of hydrocodone, said Investigator William John.
Information at the scene led to the execution of a search warrant that evening in Albany County, he said. Troopers and Colonie police searched a home on Van Rensselaer Road in Colonie and seized prescription medication and drug paraphernalia. Evidence from both homes were sent to the State Police forensic center in Albany.
Troopers continued their interviews and investigation and earlier this month, were informed that Ms. Disbury’s death was due to an overdose from drugs provided to her by the woman in Colonie, police said.
On May 17, Troopers and Colonie Police arrested:
• Barbara A. Simpson, 56, of Van Rensselaer Road in Albany, on charges of criminal negligent homicide, a felony.
_ Andrea Robinson, 52, Main Street, Middleburgh on charges of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
• Grace T. Miller, 48, of Rossman Fly Road, Summit on charges of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Ms. Simpson allegedly provided the hydrocodone to Ms. Disbury while Ms. Robinson and Ms. Miller provided Xanax to the victim, police said. Both are prescription medicines.
The three women were arraigned that day in the Village of Cobleskill court, police said. Ms. Robinson and Ms. Miller were sent to jail in lieu of $1,000 bail each and Ms. Simpson was jailed in lieu of $2,500 bail.
Ms. Robinson and Ms. Miller were scheduled to return to Summit court on Friday, police said.
Ms. Simpson was arrested again on Friday following her released from Schoharie County jail on charges of third-degree and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, both felonies.
She was arraigned on the new charges in the Town of Colonie court and sent to Albany County jail without bail to return to court on Wednesday, May 26.
Investigator John said that Ms. Robinson’s son and the victim had a child in common and Ms. Miller was an acquaintance of Ms. Robinson. Ms. Simpson was introduced to Ms. Disbury by someone else.
Evidence showed, Investigator John said, that Ms. Disbury traveled to Colonie the day before her death to Ms. Simpson’s home.
The Schoharie County District Attorney’s office assisted in the investigation.
Police said they will be looking closely at overdose-related deaths in the future.