After an investigation by the Pacific County Joint Drug Task Force following the alleged overdose death of a peninsula woman, a suspect was arrested and later released without charges following a decision by the county prosecutor.

The Long Beach Police Department responded to the report of an unconscious female on Oct. 22, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m. The responding officer learned that she was last seen alive hours before the homeowner found her unconscious.

The man reportedly told the officer that the female had been staying at the residence since the night before. She allegedly was known to use drugs and would usually use them in the garage of the residence.

“[He] had left the residence for approximately an hour the following morning; however, upon his return, he observed [the female] on a couch in the same position that she had been in when he had left,” a task force officer stated in court records.

Phone records
According to court records, another officer from the task force applied for and was granted a search warrant for the deceased female’s cell phone. Investigators found evidence that she was in contact with an alleged drug seller identified as Adam R. Rowe, 41.

“[An officer] searched this cell phone and observed a Facebook conversation between [the female] and Adam Rowe that took place on October 21st, 2024, the day prior to [the female’s death],” a task force officer stated in court records.

“In this conversation, an agreement was made for [her] to give Rowe $300, that Rowe would drive to Longview, purchase fentanyl, and bring that fentanyl back to [her]. [Her] first message to Rowe on October 21st was at 1:27 p.m. in which she asked Rowe’ Please do you jave (sic)..I have cash.’ Rowe replied, ‘Nope’ and ‘Been waiting to go-to town,'” the task force officer added.

The female reportedly replied that she had the $300 and Rowe allegedly said, “Let’s go to Longview can get fire if you have 300 bucks.” Rowe also reportedly continued to give the woman updates on his route.

“Rowe then sent multiple messages and calls to [the woman] on October 22nd and has since appeared to have blocked [her] account,” a task force officer stated in court records, which also later added Rowe unfriended the woman at 11 p.m. on Oct. 23.

Rowe’s explanation
According to court records, Rowe was located by LBPD on April 1 and gave his account of what had happened and that he did not have a role in the woman’s death. He explained that he was supposed to get drugs for the woman.

“I interviewed Rowe with [another officer] regarding this incident, and Rowe stated that he was supposed to have gotten drugs for [the woman] before she died and that he had taken her vehicle out of town to get the drugs, but that he had been unable to purchase any, and that he had been unable to find [her] after the fact to return the vehicle,” as task force officer stated in court records.

“When asked how much he was going to be purchasing for [her], Rowe stated that it would be approximately $300 worth but that he had never gotten money from [her] and was going to cover the cost himself,” the task force officer added.

Inconsistent
The task force officer reportedly called out Rowe for the inconsistency between his statements and the evidence the investigation had already uncovered, which suggested Rowe was, in fact, given $300 and was providing the woman with updates.

“Rowe stated that they [he and another woman] had ‘Ripped her off,'” the task officer stated in court records. “This leads me to believe that Rowe was acknowledging that he had received money from [her].”

Rowe also reportedly borrowed her car to “take a shower,” and when he came back with it, she was nowhere to be found.

“I asked Rowe why he had blocked [her] on Facebook, and he stated that when he had learned that she had died, he got scared,” a task force officer stated in court records.

Rowe was arrested and subsequently booked into jail for controlled substance homicide, which is a class B felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

He appeared for a preliminary hearing in the Pacific County Superior on April 2, and Judge Donald J. Richter set his bail at $25,000, however he was soon released after the prosecutor decided not to pursue the matter.