Two charged in Waupaca County death
By Robert Cloud
Two people face homicide charges in the drug overdose death of 27-year-old Jeremyah Zander.
Charged with first-degree reckless homicide are Joseph D. Charlesworth, 34, Appleton, and Sonnie Jo Meier, 31, Waupaca.
Both have prior drug-related felony records and both are currently in custody. Charlesworth is in the Outagamie County jail on a $500,000 cash bond and Meier is in the Waupaca County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
Shortly after 3 a.m. Friday, July 7, Zander’s parents found him deceased in their shed on County Trunk N in the town of Little Wolf. They called 911.
Waupaca County deputies responded to the call and found a folded dollar inside the pouch pocket of his sweatshirt. The bill contained a small plastic bag with a gray powder that tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
His family told investigators that Zander had been with a woman, identified in the criminal complaint as MRM, who gave him a ride to the Fox Valley area earlier that day.
According to the criminal complaint, MRM and Zander picked up Meier and drove to a dealer where Meier used $200 she received from Zander to purchase fentanyl. They returned to Meier’s home where Zander and Meier used the fentanyl. Then MRM drove Zander back home.
Meier identified her supplier for the fentanyl as “Broadway Joe.” She did not know his actual name and described him as being about 5-feet-3-inches tall and having tattoos on his face.
Detective Sgt. Clint Schroeder spoke with Special Agent Ryan Dobbs with the state Division of Criminal Investigation. Dobbs identified Broadway Joe as Charlesworth and sent him a photo. Meier identified the subject in the photo as her supplier.
Prior convictions
Charlesworth has been charged with narcotics-related crimes in three other counties, including an Aug. 29 reckless homicide charge involving a drug overdose in Outagamie County.
On Aug. 22, 2014, Winnebago County Circuit Court sentenced Charlesworth to two years in state prison and three years of extended supervision for delivery of heroin.
His extended supervision was revoked on April 3, 2018, and Charlesworth was returned to prison until his release on Nov. 19, 2019.
A Waupaca County deputy was escorting Meier into the courthouse when he discovered she had heroin in her purse. She was charged with possession of narcotics and convicted on Jan. 24, 2018.
Judge Vicki Clussman placed Meier on three years of probation with the condition that she participate in the drug court program. Meier graduated from the program on May 22. 2019.
Her other prior convictions include burglary and delivery of cocaine on Jan. 24, 2018.