Man faces murder charges in connection to drug overdose in 2020

A man faces third-degree murder charges in connection to a 2020 overdose death.

A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County Court names Jamarr Edward Casso, 42-years-old, in connection to the overdose death of a woman found by South Lake Minnetonka police officers on Oct. 12, 2020.

The complaint states that the woman’s body was found in a bathtub at a residence in Shorewood at about 2:30 p.m. Officers noticed a used hypodermic needle and a suspected controlled substance nearby.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later determined that the cause of death was drowning due to losing consciousness from fentanyl and morphine toxicity.

Investigators then analyzed the victim’s cell phone and noted a conversation about narcotics with a phone number bearing a 507 area code. The messages detailed drug amounts and meeting in the victim’s neighborhood.  

Police later tied the 507 number to Jamarr Casso, a registered predatory offender.

Casso was arrested on March 24, 2021 after an unrelated controlled substance-related search warrant at his home, according to the complaint.

Investigators spoke with Casso, who waived his Miranda rights, and asked him about the sale of controlled substances to the victim in October 2020. Casso denied knowing her, but admitted the 507 number was his phone. He then admitted he did know the victim and that he provided a “30 bag” at her home, and that he was “try[ing] to make some money off her.” Casso also admitted to selling narcotics to the victim in the past and using drugs with her, according to the complaint.

Casso has a long criminal history of drug offenses, including 17 convictions, 12 of which are felonies.