Man Being Charged in Fatal Overdose of Woman in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. – More information about a tragic death was revealed in the probable cause hearing today of a man accused of giving a lethal dose of fentanyl to a woman in Jonesboro.

On March 13, Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to hold Randy Joe Coaker on a charge of homicide – aggravated death by delivery for his alleged role in the death of Tracy Marler, the victim. Bond was officially set at $3 million cash-only. Coaker faces 20 years to 60 years or life imprisonment, if convicted of the charge.

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At 11:56 PM on March 5, 2024, the Jonesboro Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive person at 715 W. Monroe. Officers found the victim deceased in the passenger seat of her vehicle. A foamy froth was in her mouth, consistent with an overdose. There were no signs of physical trauma.

But there were conflicting stories as to how the victim ended up at the residence.

The PC affidavit says that Coaker told police the victim showed up to his location, left her vehicle running and only knocked on his door to say, “hey, I’ll be right back.” Coaker claimed he never saw her after. Coaker said he ordered food and fell asleep. When he woke up, he had several missed calls telling him he needed to come pick up the victim because she was drunk and passed out in her vehicle. Coaker said he ordered an Uber but then found the victim deceased and cold to the touch.

But when police interviewed several other witnesses, they told a different story. A witness, Deborah Yarber, was seated in the vehicle with both the victim and Coaker. Yarber said the victim began taking blue and light green “rock candy.” She went limp and fell over in the vehicle. Yarber said she told Coaker he had to do something. Coaker is alleged to have exited the vehicle and sat the victim upright before they arrived back at 715 W. Monroe.

By this point, the victim was in an overdose state. However, instead of seeking help, the affidavit says Coaker drove back to his apartment and made another witness drive the vehicle back, again, to 715 W. Monroe where she parked it with the victim “sleeping” in the passenger seat. Yarber said the suspect went into the victim’s purse and removed several green and blue “rock candy” pills.

Two hours later, Coaker ordered an Uber and then finally, called the police.

Authorities performed a forensic examination of the victim’s cellular phone and found a text saying she would be at Coaker’s residence at 5:45 PM. The two communicated about buying hydrocodone and the affidavit says the victim sent $400 through CashApp for the pills. Coaker apparently didn’t have those but he did tell the victim he had some “M30s,” or oxycodone. He sent a video of himself pouring approximately 15 of the pills into his hand while laughing and saying “you want some Tylenol.” Coaker told her to be careful because one of the pills was “strong as f***.” The victim replied that was her favorite kind.

M30 pills are the most common counterfeit pills for being pressed with Fentanyl, the PC affidavit says.

Coaker is alleged to have confessed to selling the victim pills that he thought might possibly contain fentanyl, as they had made him sick at least twice. The Arkansas State Crime Lab confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s blood.

Coaker’s next court appearance is 8:30 AM on May 24, 2024. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

In addition to Coaker facing up to life imprisonment for this charge, police are investigating at least one other incident that may have involved Coaker, as well. The Jonesboro Fire Department responded to an overdose at 9:50 PM on March 8 at a unit at 5307 Harrisburg Road. The incident report, which lists a 38-year old white male suspect, says that a Missouri woman, 34, overdosed after taking what she thought was a hydrocodone.

The police reports remain open as JPD continues to investigate, making it exempt from an open records request.

Coaker is being charged under a new law passed in 2023 that holds suspected drug dealers accountable for the death of someone who buys dope from them. The law specifically deals with fentanyl in adults but can include other hard drugs if the deceased victim is a minor.