Doctor accused of prescribing drugs that led to overdose death of Three Doors Down guitarist
WEST BEND -- West Bend police have announced an arrest has been made in connection with the death of Matthew Roberts, a former member of the band Three Doors Down.
38-year-old Roberts was found dead on August 20th at the Hampton Inn near 18th Avenue and Paradise Drive in West Bend. He was in West Bend to play with a local band at a charity event.
West Bend police say the cause of death was determined to be a prescription drug-related overdose.
An investigation revealed the source of the drugs was from Alabama -- and police in West Bend worked with authorities from the Mobile Alabama Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Alabama.
That investigation revealed the prescription drugs that caused Robert's death were obtained from a physician in Fairhope, Alabama.
On November 16th, Dr. Richard Snellgrove of Fairhope Alabama was indicted for "Illegal Drug Distribution" in relation to the death of Roberts.
"There's no satisfaction in seeing a doctor arrested. I don't have any bitterness, no anger, nothing like that towards the doctor, but I'm also aware this is a serious issue in the medical community all over the United States," Matthew Roberts' father, Darrell Roberts said.
According to the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Alabama, Dr. Snellgrove prescribed controlled substances in the names of different individuals knowing and intending that the controlled substances would go to Roberts. There were five prescriptions for methadone, hydrocodone, loraxepam and fentanyl. The indictment alleges these prescriptions were written outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.