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Published: Jan 29, 2006 12:00 AM
Modified: Jan 29, 2006 03:00 AM

Cancer patient's aid is fatal to friend

Fussell is charged with sharing drugs that killed her neighbor.
 

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Lee had been seen by her primary care physician two days earlier with a severe headache. The report said she had a history of migraines and high blood pressure. She had taken Lopressor, a blood pressure medicine, the anti-depressant Zoloft and hydrocodone for pain.

Wallace said Lee's family told investigators about the fentanyl lollipop from Fussell. Authorities ordered an autopsy and additional testing for chemicals in blood and tissue.

The levels of fentanyl in Lee's liver and blood were high enough to kill someone who had not been taking the drug, according to the autopsy report.

William F. Kelly, a Jacksonville pathologist who performed the autopsy, said last week that there was no indication that other medications interacted with the fentanyl but that someone who had not been taking fentanyl would be more vulnerable to a toxic level.

"It could be very low and still cause death," he said.

Rift divides families

Once close, the Lee and Fussell families are now on opposite sides of the criminal case. A civil case is also possible.

Tim Smith of Kenansville, an attorney for Lee's husband, Brentwood Forest Lee, said he and another lawyer are gathering information for a wrongful death lawsuit against Fussell. "He's not a vindictive person, but he has been wronged," Smith said.

He said Lee, who works in engineering, lost his soul mate in his wife and was still in shock from her death. Efforts to reach Lee were unsuccessful.

Across the road, Celeste Fussell's tumors have returned, and Robert Fussell said he wasn't sure of her prognosis. Celeste Fussell stared out her living room window to the house where Glenda Lee lived.

"She is so missed by everybody," she said. "I'd do anything in the world to bring her back."


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Staff writer Jerry Allegood can be reached in Greenville at (252) 752-8411 or jerrya@newsobserver.com.

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