BELLE — Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman on Tuesday said that the Belle Division and Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group (LANEG) are investigating another suspected drug overdose death.

Cassie Carlson, 38, was found by a family member at 8 p.m. on Monday at her residence located at the 700 block of East Fifth Street in Belle. LANEG’s assistance was requested with the drug overdose investigation.

“This is another tragic death where a mother was taken away from her children too early,” Heitman said. “We are following up a few leads in this investigation, however investigations like these take a long time.”

As the cause of death is still unknown, the sheriff’s department has ordered an autopsy, which was scheduled to be done Tuesday (Aug. 10).

“I will try to keep the public informed as much as I can with this investigation, as I do others,” Heitman said. “I hope to have the person who sold this deadly drug to Ms. Carlson in my jail as soon as possible. My prayers go out to her family.”

Heitman said this is the second suspected fatal drug overdose in a short time. Ray D. Limberg, 25, of Belle, was found on July 24 at his residence located at the 100 block of Third Street in Belle. The cause of death was also suspected to be a fatal drug overdose.

At that time, Heitman insisted that they had leads on Limberg’s drug dealer. He gave The Advocate an update on the search.

“We have seized the suspected dealer’s cell phone and executed a warrant on it,” Heitman said. “As soon as information from the cell phone and the forensic results from the medical examiner's office are back, I anticipate making an arrest shortly after we receive those.”