A Jonesboro man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with a woman's fatal overdose.
Randy Joe Coaker Jr., 40, was sentenced Monday by Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Scott Ellington to 180 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for his role in the 2024 death of 37-year-old Tracy Marlar. Court records show Coaker has been credited with 876 days of time already served.
Charges of delivery of fentanyl and illegal use of a communication device were dropped as part of the plea agreement, according to the sentencing order. Coaker was initially charged with aggravated death by delivery of a controlled substance after authorities alleged he sold Marlar six fentanyl-containing pills.
According to an affidavit, Jonesboro police responded to a call from Coaker shortly before midnight on March 5, 2024, reporting an unresponsive person in a vehicle in the 700 block of West Monroe Avenue. Officers arrived to find Marlar seated upright in the car, her head resting between the headrest and the door. They observed foam in her mouth, which they stated was consistent with an overdose.
Police determined that Marlar had been with three other individuals in the vehicle when she overdosed. A witness reportedly told investigators that Marlar ingested what was described as blue and light green "rock candy" pills while Coaker was driving. According to the witness, Marlar became limp and collapsed onto Coaker, who stopped the vehicle, positioned her upright, and drove to the West Monroe address.
After arriving, Coaker and two other individuals left Marlar “sleeping” in the passenger seat and departed. Two hours later, Coaker returned via an Uber ride to the vehicle, where he found Marlar deceased and "cold to the touch," the affidavit says.
One witness alleged that Coaker removed several green and blue pills, believed to be fentanyl-laced, from Marlar's purse and discarded them prior to contacting law enforcement.
Investigators later obtained permission from Marlar's parents to access her cellphone, which revealed text messages between her and Coaker. In the messages, Marlar asked to purchase hydrocodone from Coaker and transferred $400 to him through Cash App. Coaker reportedly told her he did not have hydrocodone but offered "M30" pills instead. According to court documents, Coaker sent Marlar a video showing him holding the pills and jokingly referring to them as "Tylenol," to which Marlar replied, "My favorite kind of Tylenol."
The investigation also revealed that Coaker admitted to selling Marlar six pills, commonly referred to as "roxy" pills, believing they might contain fentanyl. He told investigators he had used a portion of the pills previously and became sick but was unsure of their exact content.
Toxicology testing conducted by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory confirmed the presence of fentanyl in Marlar's system, alongside prescribed benzodiazepines. The use of illicitly manufactured pills containing fentanyl has been a growing concern in Arkansas and across the country due to its high potency and link to overdose deaths.