Coventry woman arrested in two drug overdose deaths - Akron Beacon Journal

Summit County sheriff's detectives are continuing to investigate a Coventry Township woman accused Thursday of manslaughter in the heroin overdose deaths of two men.

Danielle Hoover, 29, is jailed on multiple charges of involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs and tampering with evidence. Her bond was set at $100,000 after her initial appearance in Barberton Municipal Court.

Sheriff's deputies say they have linked Hoover to two heroin-related deaths: Richard Allen Davis, 40, of Coventry, in 2009; and Rollie Harmon, 34, of Akron, last December.

Authorities say Hoover was with the men around the time they used heroin and died.

"She admittedly furnished these two individuals with drugs that led to their death," sheriff's Inspector Bill Holland said. "She furnished it to them, one way or another, whether she sold it or it was in exchange for something else."

Hoover's attorney, Ed Bonetti, could not be reached for comment.

Drug overdoses occur about once a week in Summit County, according to the county medical examiner. Since 2007, at least 59 deaths annually have been attributed to drug overdoses. In 2010, the number peaked at 75. In 2011, 69 people died of overdose. Final figures for 2012 are not available.

Holland said detectives are continuing to investigate Hoover in connection with other heroin-overdose deaths. He declined to elaborate on the number of potential cases.

"We're looking into a lot of different avenues here," Holland said. "Summit County has [drug] overdoses pretty much every week. We had two here. We want to make sure we don't have other victims out there."

Davis was found dead inside a pickup truck on Killian Road in Coventry Township from what the medical examiner's office said was an overdose of heroin and cocaine.

Family of Davis could not be reached for comment.

On Dec. 26, Harmon died from a heroin overdose, authorities said. His body was found at Steve's Motel in Green, according to the medical examiner's office.

Harmon and a woman, believed to be Hoover, had rented the room for six hours, a report shows. When Harmon didn't check out in time, a motel worker went to the room and found his body on a bed. The woman was not there, according to an investigator's report.

Friends and family say Harmon, a Highland High School grad, was a father of one, a foreman for an asphalt company in Akron and a conscientious weight lifter whose drug of choice was working out.

Justin Couch, a lifelong friend, said no one was aware of Harmon's heroin use nor his relationship with Hoover. Harmon had spent Christmas Eve with Couch's family and was expected to return Christmas Day.

"I will speak on behalf of the family and everyone close to him: We were all shocked and extremely surprised when finding out the nature of his death," Couch said.

Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com. He can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PhilTrexler