Document: Mix of drugs led to Fair Haven woman’s death

The death of a Fair Haven woman whose body was found wrapped in a tarp in a shed belonging to a Poultney man was due to an intoxicating mix of drugs in her system, according to her death certificate.

The document filed last week and obtained by VTDigger confirms a belief stated by federal prosecutors and police after Alexandra Rooker’s body was discovered March 15 on the property of Wayne Oddo, 53: that she likely died of an overdose.

The Rutland Herald was first to report details from Rooker’s death certificate.

Federal prosecutors described both Rooker, 26, and Oddo as heroin users.

Police found Rooker’s body in a shed on a property on Morse Hollow Road in Poultney belonging to Oddo. He has since been charged with a federal offense alleging he possessed a firearm while using illegal drugs. Oddo pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment last month.

Prosecutors say Rooker may have been dead a week when police found her. The autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, prosecutors added.

The time of death on Rooker’s death certificate is listed as “Unknown.” The manner of death, the document states, was “accident.” The cause of death is given as acute mixed intoxication, with three drugs found her system: morphine, methamphetamine and hydromorphone.

In response to a question on the death certificate form asking how the injury occurred, it states “substance abuse.”

Rooker had been reported missing March 8 by family members who hadn’t heard from her since March 2. Rooker reportedly was last seen March 3, when a friend dropped her off at Oddo’s home, prosecutors said.

Oddo had told police that Rooker had been at his property but left, court records state. When police later arrived armed with a warrant, Oddo told them Rooker’s body was in the shed, according to court records.

Police also seized several firearms from the home, including an AK-47 rifle.

Oddo is being held without bail in the St. Albans prison. According to court records, several other people, including some who said they came from out of state and stayed at Oddo’s residence, have also been charged with federal drug offenses in connection with the investigation.

Oddo told authorities he let people stay at his place in exchange for drugs, according to court records.

At a court hearing in Oddo’s case last month, prosecutors revealed that the body of another person, Frederick J. Weitzman, 54, of New York, had been found on Oddo’s property in September.

The certificate lists Weitzman’s manner of death as an accident and his cause of death as “Hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” he suffered from for years.

Listed as a contributing factor was “Acute Heroin Intoxication; Acute and Chronic Alcohol Use.”

Oddo has not been charged in connection with either Weitzman’s or Rooker’s death.

Vermont State Police said Friday that the investigation into the Rooker case is ongoing.

Rutland County State’s Attorney Rose Kennedy could not be reached Friday afternoon for comment.

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