Charged: Sheboygan woman accused of selling heroin to her own mother



SHEBOYGAN COUNTY (WITI) -- Two Sheboygan women have been arrested in connection with a deadly heroin overdose. Both suspects were already facing charges for selling the drug to their own relatives. In one woman's case -- her own mother!

Early Friday morning, August 22nd, paramedics tried to save an unresponsive woman at a home on 14th Street in Sheboygan.

26-year-old Nadine Rothering was eventually pronounced dead at the scene -- with officers noting she had a phone number written in pen on her left hand.

Investigators suspect Rothering overdosed on heroin.

"We`re seeing more and more of this stuff. I mean, about five years ago, on our templates for search warrants, we didn`t even include heroin," Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco said.

Police traced the phone number found on Rothering's hand to 23-year-old Abbey Miller.

They were already looking for Miller after a near-fatal overdose in Sheboygan Falls. In the July incident, the woman who survived stated that she snorted heroin that she had received from her daughter, whom she identified as Miller.

DeCecco says when it comes to heroin, nothing is unexpected.

"I think aside from pure opium, it`s the most addictive drug that we know. It leaves cocaine and meth far in the dust as far as addiction," DeCecco said.

The investigation into Rothering's death then led to Monica Sanchez. The 26-year-old had already reached a plea deal in a different fatal overdose -- one that killed her uncle.

Court records show Sanchez told police her uncle would purchase heroin from her, and that it was almost every day.

"She admits everything. She was gonna get some consideration for that, but she had to stay out of trouble and obviously, she didn`t," DeCecco said.

Sanchez told police that on Thursday, August 21st, she drove Miller to a gas station just a couple blocks further down 14th Street.

That's where Miller allegedly sold heroin to Rothering.

Sanchez says Miller told Rothering not to take all the heroin at once, because it was strong.

Both Miller and Sanchez have been charged with delivery of heroin in connection with Rothering's death.

Once the toxicology report comes back, the women could also face reckless homicide charges.

Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

In the case involving her mother, Miller is charged with felony manufacturing or delivering heroin and second-degree recklessly endangering safety. She faces more than 12 years in prison if convicted in that case.

Miller tells police she didn't give her mom drugs.