Gaylord man faces murder charges in 18-year-old woman’s fentanyl death

The Tragic Incident in Montgomery, Minnesota

A Gaylord man is facing murder charges in the tragic overdose death of a young woman that occurred in Montgomery, Minnesota.

Rogelio Lara Jr, 22,  stands accused of supplying the 18-year-old victim with counterfeit oxycodone – known as M30 pills.

The heart-wrenching incident unfolded on January 8 when police were summoned to a residence in Montgomery due to a suspected overdose death. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the lifeless body of the victim, identified as Jada Schwarzrock, 18.

It was revealed that Schwarzrock’s boyfriend, who made the grim discovery, recounted that she had been at his Minneapolis apartment the night before and left around 1:30 a.m. following a disagreement between the couple. He surmised that she had gone to acquire drugs as she had deactivated the location on her phone.

Concern arose when Schwarzrock’s boyfriend attempted to contact her at 8 a.m. that morning and received no response throughout the day.

During the investigation, it was disclosed that Schwarzrock had been involved in two car accidents within three weeks, both linked to fentanyl, although she had been reportedly “doing good” recently.

Authorities found half of an M30 pill and a small straw containing fentanyl at the scene, with the autopsy confirming Schwarzrock’s demise as accidental fentanyl toxicity.

The Search Warrant and Investigation

Further inquiries revealed that the victim had made a transaction of $20 through Cash App with an individual known as “Reggie.” Subsequently identified as Lara Jr, investigators noted over a dozen payments to his account from Schwarzrock between November 12 and January 8.

Upon executing a search warrant at Lara Jr’s residence in February, agents from the Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force discovered 2 ½ additional fentanyl pills.

The complaint detailed Lara Jr’s denial of having a Cash App account or involvement in the sale of “blues,” another term for counterfeit oxycodone, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Initially claiming unfamiliarity with Schwarzrock, Lara Jr later admitted to knowing her and receiving payments through the app for pills.

He confessed to pooling funds with others to purchase pills at a discounted rate, acknowledging selling two or three pills to Schwarzrock around the time of her untimely passing.

Legal Ramifications

Lara Jr was apprehended on 3rd-degree murder charges and is presently detained at the Le Sueur County Jail, pending further legal proceedings.