Newton Woman Gets Prison Time In Connection To Overdose Death

A Catawba County woman received a prison sentence after entering a guilty plea in connection to the death of a Catawba resident two years ago. According to published reports, 28-year-old Darien Brooke Greer of Newton received a minimum sentence of 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Catawba County Superior Court Wednesday (March 22). According to the North Carolina Department Of Adult Correction Offender Public Information website, Greer also entered a guilty plea to two counts of felony contraband to prisoners.

Greer was initially charged with death by distribution. During Wednesday’s court session she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. Once Greer is released from prison, she will be placed on supervised probation for two years on the contraband charges.

Greer was charged in connection to the overdose death of 25-year-old Brianna Culpepper on January 19, 2021. An autopsy confirmed that Culpepper died from fentanyl toxicity. According to the published reports, a search of the victim’s phone showed she tried to contact Greer twice the day before her death. The phone also showed a payment made to Greer through Cash App.

According to the published reports, a relative of Culpepper contacted police to report that they found the victim dead in a camper she was living in on her grandmother’s property. The camper was on her grandmother’s property in Catawba. Reports state that responding officers found a spoon, a needle and an unknown substance at the scene.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY