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Two Charlotte County residents have been sentenced to a combined 194 years in prison due to their roles in a 2020 fatal overdose. The sentence was handed down this week, connected with the death of a Virginia Beach resident. 

On June 13, 2020, Virginia Beach resident Harrison M. Overcash died at a residence in Saxe, after a drug overdose. An investigation by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force identified 51-year-old Dianna Jannette Connelly of Saxe and 40-year-old Jacob Boyer of Charlotte Court House as the two who supplied Overcash with the narcotics that led to his death. 

Based on evidence collected and analyzed during the investigation by the Virginia State Police High-Tech Crimes Division and Virginia Department of Forensic Science, the Charlotte County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney was able to demonstrate that the 27-year-old Overcash died of a lethal, mixed dosage of heroin, fentanyl and diazepam. The drugs originated out of North Carolina, were sold by Connelly in Prince Edward County and then delivered by Boyer at Connelly’s direction to Overcash in Charlotte County. 

The challenge here, Charlotte County officials say, is that they had very little to start with. Text messages between Connelly and Overcash helped establish part of the trail, along with statements given by both of the defendants at different times. 

“Normally in narcotics cases, the controlled substance is submitted to the Department of Forensic Science for analysis,” said Charlotte County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Leslie E. Schneider. “In this case, the crime scene had been cleaned of any controlled substances. Also unique to this case was the establishment of the offense timeline by use of Boyer’s delivery confirmation to Connelly, the 911 call record by the decedent’s girlfriend, and the Medical Examiner’s Report.” 

Sentence three years after indictment 

It’s taken a while to arrive at this point. A Charlotte County grand jury indicted Connelly in April 2021 on one felony count of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance, one felony count of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule IV controlled substance, one felony count to conspire to distribute a Schedule IV controlled substance, two felony counts of possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance and one felony count to conspire to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance. When she failed to appear in court on these charges, the Virginia State Police connected with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate her. 

They arrested her months later at a location in Virginia Beach. 

Connelly was sentenced to 144 years in prison. The majority of that sentence, with good behavior, can be suspended, so she will serve at least 23 years behind bars. 

The grand jury also indicted Boyer in April 2021. He was served with one felony count of possession with intent to manufacture a Schedule I/II controlled substance, one felony count of distribution of a Schedule IV controlled substance, one felony count to conspire possession with the intent to manufacture a Schedule I/II controlled substance and one felony count to conspire to distribute a Schedule IV controlled substance. Of the 50 years he was sentenced by a Charlotte County Circuit Court Judge, Boyer will serve four years.

Response to Charlotte County sentence

Overcash’s mother said in a statement she was grateful for the work done to get the arrests, indictments and sentences. 

“The family of Harrison Overcash is extremely grateful for the tireless efforts of the Charlotte County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and law enforcement in bringing these criminals to justice,” said Diana Glasier, mother of Harrison Overcash. “As we continue to grieve this tragic loss, the successful conviction offers a sense of closure for us and reinforces our faith in the justice system.”