St. Louis - The United States Marshals Service today arrested Megan Lowe, 41, of Bevier, Missouri and Kimberly Ann Basler, 44, of Atlanta, Missouri on Federal drug charges.  The Indictment against Lowe and Basler was unsealed following their arrests.  It alleges that on October 5, 2018, Lowe and Basler distributed controlled substances, and that two people, identified only as E.O. and M.J., ingested those drugs.  M.J., of Columbia, Missouri, died as a result, and E.O., also of Columbia, became seriously ill.  Lowe and Basler are each charged with two counts – one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death.  They are expected to make their initial appearances in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis on August 1, 2019.

The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Columbia, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Lowe and Basler face mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years on each of the two counts with which they are charged.  These sentences could be ordered to be served concurrently (at the same time) or consecutively (one after the other).

Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.