Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Body Discovered at Leicester Man’s Residence Following Overdose

ASHEVILLE — In a recent development, a Leicester man has been charged with concealing or failing to report a death after a body was found at his residence. This incident comes just days after the same man was charged with the same offense. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the death is not considered suspicious.

According to Aaron Sarver, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, on December 12, a 61-year-old male family member of Craig Ross Griffin was found deceased at Griffin’s residence located at 59 Israel Road. The cause of death was determined to be an overdose.

Sarver stated, “(Griffin) is not facing any (additional) charges because that is not a suspicious death.”

Craig Ross Griffin, 57, was arrested on December 15 and initially charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and concealing or failing to report a death. The arrest followed the discovery of another body, that of a 41-year-old female named Jenny Marie Grant, found in a van at 51 Indian Hills Drive in Leicester.

The execution of a search warrant led to the discovery of Grant’s body, which subsequently resulted in Griffin being charged with concealing a death.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office typically does not release the names of individuals who have died from drug overdoses. However, in compliance with a public records request, the name of Jenny Marie Grant was made public. Grant, a resident of Leicester, was born in Asheville and is survived by her parents, brother, and four children. Her occupation was listed as a homemaker on her death certificate, and the cause of death is still pending.

Sarver clarified that Grant and Griffin were acquaintances or friends, but not blood relatives and not involved in a dating relationship.

Griffin’s arrest warrant revealed additional shocking details about the weapons charges he is facing. It was disclosed that Griffin possessed a “pipe bomb filled with nails and metallic balls.” The explosive device was safely detonated at the scene by the bomb squads from the Asheville Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Currently, Griffin is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. His bond has been increased from $65,000 to $105,000, according to online jail records. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 8.

Michael Casterline, Griffin’s attorney, confirmed that the bond increase was requested by Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys during a bond hearing. Casterline expressed his objection to the bond increase, but it was granted by the judge.

As the investigation into these incidents continues, the FBI is also conducting an investigation into human remains found in the Pisgah National Forest, and a body found in Fontana Lake has been identified as an Asheville-area man.

Ryley Ober, the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, is actively following this case. For more updates, you can reach out to her at rober@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @ryleyober.

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