Fatal Lake Elsinore Fentanyl overdose leads to dealer’s arrest, murder charge

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif., — Sheriff’s officials say their months-long investigation into the Fentanyl overdose related death of a Murrieta woman ultimately led to the arrest of a Menifee woman they say sold the decedent the drugs. The victim was found dead inside a vehicle parked at a Lake Elsinore business last April.

Online jail records indicate that the alleged drug dealer 28-year-old Stephanie Marie Calo, remains in custody where she is being held in lieu of $1 million bail or bond. Superior Court records indicate that when she was arrested yesterday, Calo was already on probation for a 2019 conviction for possession of controlled substance for sales and driving under the influence of drugs.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:

Two critically injured after rollover crash into tree in Rubidoux

Perris felon arrested after dangerous vehicle pursuit, foot chase

Juvenile arrested after knife attack leaves man in critical condition

Anza Rock Fire stopped at 250 acres, four homes and seven outbuildings destroyed

Witness reports man was “going around 120 mph” before deadly fiery wreck in Homeland

The death investigation began April 21, around 1:45 p.m. after deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station and other emergency personnel were dispatched to reports of an unresponsive woman in a vehicle in the 300 block of Railroad Canyon Road, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Ryan Marcuse reported yesterday.

When officials arrived they found a woman, since identified as Jayde Madden, 28, deceased inside her vehicle. Coroner officials later determined she died from an overdose of Fentanyl; which Marcuse described as a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm.

Stephanie Calo, 28, of Menifee, was arrested yesterday after allegedly selling Jayde Madden, 28, Murrieta, fentanyl or some other drug mixed with the deadly narcotic, that resulted in Madden’s fatal overdose in Lake Elsinore last April. RSO booking photo

“Through extensive investigation by investigators from the Special Investigation Bureau as well as the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, it was determined the decedent was a victim of homicide due to a Fentanyl overdose,” Marcuse went on to explain.

During their subsequent investigation, officials worked tirelessly according to Marcuse; who explained that through their exhaustive and thorough investigative efforts, sheriff’s officials ultimately identified Calo as the woman who sold Madden the narcotics that resulted in her death. 

On Friday, Aug. 27, investigators located Calo and she was taken into custody without incident. She was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of second-degree murder and violation of probation and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta on Sept. 1.

IN RELIGION TODAY:

Religion Today: Route 66

Religion Today: Am I Going to Die?

Religion Today: Zoom Weddings – A Pandemic Blessing for Some Couples

Religion Today: Kids Learning Lessons of Kindness During Ongoing Pandemic

Religion Today: Jehovah’s Witnesses “Uniting the World in Faith!” with Global Virtual Event in 240 lands, 500+ languages

The sheriff’s investigation is continuing and anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Investigator Cook at (951) 955-1700. Callers can refer to incident file number L211110118 and can remain anonymous.



Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.

5 comments