HOSCHTON — Authorities say a lethal concoction of prescription narcotics killed Brittane Nichole Brown, a 14-year-old Jackson County Comprehensive High School freshman found dead at a Hoschton home in December.
After a monthslong investigation by Hoschton Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, four people, including two juveniles, face charges in connection with Brown’s death.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested Mark Lee Ingram, 40, and Donna Jean McDonald, 37, and two Hoschton juveniles whose names and ages are not being released by police.
Ingram, McDonald and one of the juveniles live at 38 White St. in Hoschton, according to Hoschton Police Chief David Hill. Emergency personnel were called to the White Street home Dec. 27, where they found Brown unresponsive and declared her dead at the scene.
Jim Fullington, special agent in charge of the Athens GBI office, said Friday that toxicology reports show Brown had lethal amounts of oxycodone and alprazolam in her system. Oxycodone is a prescription pain killer and alprazolam is found in Xanax, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
Both McDonald and Ingram and one of the juveniles were at the residence at the time of Brown’s death, Fullington said.
McDonald faces felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Ingram is charged with possession of drug-related objects, possession of marijuana and maintaining a disorderly house.
One juvenile is charged with two violations of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. The other juvenile is charged with one count of possession/sale/distribution of dangerous drugs.
Ingram and McDonald were taken to the Jackson County Jail in Jefferson. The two juveniles were taken to the youth detention center in Gainesville, Fullington said.
Ingram was released on a $6,000 bond, said Lt. Richard Vickery, a jail spokesman. McDonald remained in jail Friday on a $10,000 bond, Vickery said.
Fullington said one juvenile also remained in custody, but was not sure about the other.
Throughout the course of the investigation authorities released few details about the events leading up to Brown’s death.
In a news release issued late Thursday night, Hill said officers are not prepared to comment on what evidence discovered during the investigation linked the charged individuals with Brown’s death.
Fullington said Ingram and McDonald will now go before a grand jury. One juvenile faces a hearing, he said, while the other has already had a hearing.