RUTLAND – A Poultney man who owns a property where police found a dead woman earlier this year is facing new charges _ but not in connection with her death.
Wayne Oddo, 53, had his name added to those of others earlier indicted on drug charges in connection with his property allegedly being used for dealing and using drugs.
The development comes nearly six months after police found the body of Alexandra Rooker, 26, of Fair Haven, in a shed on Oddo’s property.
Her cause of death, according to a state death certificate, was given as acute mixed intoxication, with three drugs found her system: morphine, methamphetamine and hydromorphone. No one has been charged directly in connection with Rooker’s death.
According to court records, Oddo told police that he let others use his home as a base as they dealt drugs in Rutland and other nearby towns. Oddo said they would stay at his home and in exchange they would provide him drugs, according to court filings.
“Oddo advised that he knew it was illegal to allow individuals to stay at his residence and sell illegal narcotics but he did it anyway because he was trying to help people,” court records stated.
Oddo, who had been facing one charge of possession of a firearm while using drugs, now has also been charged conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and with making his residence available to others using or selling illegal drugs.
Others facing charges and named in the new indictment are Francesco “Brisco” Escribano and Richard “Scoob” Torruellas, both of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Alyssa Grace of Brandon. The indictment also charges them with drug-related crimes.
An arraignment was held Wednesday for Oddo, Torruellas, and Grace in federal court in Burlington. Their attorneys also entered not guilty pleas on their clients’ behalf.
An autopsy revealed no sign of trauma, prosecutors said, and she may have been dead a week before police found her on March 15.
Rooker had been reported missing March 8 by family members. They also said they hadn’t heard from Rooker since March 2. She reportedly was last seen March 3, when a friend dropped her off at Oddo’s home on Morse Hollow Road, prosecutors said.
Oddo had initially told police that Rooker had been at his property but was no longer there, court records state. Later, when police arrived with a warrant, Oddo told then they could find Rooker’s body in the shed, according to court records.
In September, a New York man also died at Oddo’s property. A state death certificate lists the death as caused by ongoing medical conditions along with with “acute heroin intoxication” a contributing factor.
No charges were ever filed in the connection with that man’s death, either.
Steven Barth, a public defender representing Oddo, has filed a motion seeking to suppress statements he made to police, arguing, in part, that he was asked questions after invoking his right to an attorney.
Barth could not immediately be reached Friday for comment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella, who is prosecuting the case, also could not be reached for comment.
