Final Defendant Pleads Guilty In Mankato Drug Sale Murder Case
A North Mankato woman accused in the drug-related death of her roommate reached a plea agreement this week ahead of a jury trial.
Haley Marie Ross, 24, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting third-degree murder for her role in distributing a controlled substance that caused her roommate's death in December 2022.
Eva LeTourneau
According to court records, Ross admitted to procuring fentanyl-laced pills that resulted in the fatal overdose of her 23-year-old roommate, Eva LeTourneau.
Under the plea deal, Ross will receive a departure from Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, avoiding the standard 86-month prison sentence. Instead, she will serve seven years of probation under Blue Earth County supervision. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will ask for 180 days in jail, or up to 364 days as recommended by probation. Defense attorneys will ask for no additional jail time.
Sentencing is scheduled for February in Blue Earth County District Court.
Connor Lee Hoeft previously pled guilty to aiding and abetting third-degree murder and was also given seven years of probation in lieu of prison time. Hoeft is also required to complete 200 hours of community service.
Kueth Pamier Ruae waived a jury trial and instead proceeded to a bench trial. A judge found Ruae not guilty of aiding and abetting third-degree murder, but guilty of third degree drug sale. Ruae was sentenced to three years of probation and released after serving 218 days in jail.
The charges stemmed from a December 2022 incident where police responded to Ross's residence and found LeTourneau deceased. Investigators say Hoeft sent Ross $90 on Venmo to buy six Percocet pills from Ruae on November 30th. Investigators say the pills were laced with Fentanyl, and an autopsy revealed that LeTourneau died of acute fentanyl toxicity.
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