MARYSVILLE — Just before 3 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2020, Jesse Lott allegedly gave pain pills to Noah Jones near Marysville.
About four hours later, Jones reportedly took the pills in his Arlington home. He told a family member he was going to take a shower.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the relative found him unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom and called 911. Jones, 24, was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. Six days later, he died.
Lott, 25, was charged Friday with controlled substance homicide for Jones’s death.
Arlington detectives found Facebook messages between Lott and Jones setting up the deal, according to charging papers filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. Detectives also found other conversations indicating Lott sold fentanyl-laced pills, prosecutors wrote.
Phone records show Jones left his home, went to Lott’s and then returned to Arlington, according to the charges.
Jones bought counterfeit oxycodone M30 pills, round and light blue, prosecutors wrote. They are sometimes called “blues.” A toxicology report found 4.7 nanograms per milliliters of fentanyl in Jones’s blood.
A friend of Jones went to police in September, saying he believed Lott was the dealer, according to court papers. He had told the suspect not to sell “blues” to Jones, who was returning from drug treatment. Lott told him he wouldn’t, the friend said in a police interview.
The day before the overdose, Dec. 19, Jones and the friend were at a Christmas party. Jones left early, the friend reported. He thought that was odd. Earlier in the day, the friend had asked Jones if he was using drugs. Jones said no.
They didn’t speak again.
The friend later asked Lott if he heard what happened to Jones. The suspect said no, according to the charges. He asked if Lott sold him drugs. Lott reportedly said no.
The suspect knew that Jones was in recovery, deputy prosecutor Adam Sturdivant wrote in charging papers.
“He was specifically advised not to sell to him as he would be vulnerable,” Sturdivant wrote. “(Lott) disregarded this and sold to Noah anyway.
Lott was in custody Monday at the Snohomish County Jail on $5,000 bail. He has never been convicted of a crime, according to court papers.
Jones was one of 230 people who died from drugs in the county last year, according to the Snohomish Health District — double the number from just a few years ago. Over half of those deaths were linked to synthetic opioids, like fentanyl.
As of the end of August, there had been 109 drug-related deaths this year in Snohomish County.
Jones grew up and went to school in Arlington, according to an obituary published in The Daily Herald. He was a standout athlete, eventually playing basketball at Everett Community College. Jones was later a coach there and at Arlington High School. His nickname was “Big Smooth.”
The obituary also described him as loyal and compassionate. He wanted to become a special education teacher.
“Never in a hurry, but always seemingly on the move,” the obituary reads, “Noah managed to live his life in a way that grabbed others attention and attracted positive vibes and brought out the best in those close to him.”
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.
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