United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SUPPLYING DRUGS THAT KILLED SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY (SMU) STUDENT

DALLAS — James McDaniel, 48, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to life in prison for supplying lethal doses of cocaine, methamphetamine and oxycodone that resulted in the May 2007 death of 21-year-old Meaghan Bosch, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. McDaniel was convicted following a two-week trial in June on all counts of an indictment including one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

U.S. Attorney Jacks said, “The evidence in this case clearly showed the predatory nature of this defendant’s actions.  His conduct, including his refusal to allow others to help Ms. Bosch in her final hours, is powerful evidence of his criminal heart and mind.  Our sympathy goes out to the Bosch family as well as the other victims of this defendant’s actions.  This was a case that demanded prosecution and I am pleased with the sentence and grateful to the men of women of our office, as well as the agents and investigators who put so much in to the successful resolution of this case.”

The government presented evidence at trial that Meaghan Bosch was last seen alive, but unconscious, at James McDaniel’s residence on Winton Street, near the SMU campus on Friday afternoon, May 11, 2007. On Monday, May 14, 2007, her body was found in a portable toilet by a construction worker in Hewitt, Texas, a small town near Waco, Texas, just over 100 miles south of Dallas. The autopsy report showed that Ms. Bosch died from toxic levels of cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. McDaniel’s DNA was found at the Hewitt, Texas, crime scene. Further DNA evidence showed that hair from McDaniel’s white pit bull puppy was found on a blanket that was partially wrapped around Ms. Bosch’s body. In addition, a spot of Ms. Bosch’s blood was found on McDaniel’s shorts.

As part of its case, the government presented evidence that McDaniel was a drug dealer who targeted SMU students. He ran a poker room at the Mockingbird Station Lofts, near SMU, and encouraged SMU students to attend.

Government witnesses testified that they saw Ms. Bosch snorting cocaine from a platter on McDaniel’s bed and smoking methamphetamine from a pipe he gave her around the same time as her family and friends lost track of her on May 10, 2007. A government witness testified that he saw Ms. Bosch lying unconscious on a bed at McDaniel’s residence on May 11, 2007. When other witnesses tried to take her to a hospital, McDaniel pulled out a gun, and said “You ain’t taking her anywhere,” and let her die.

The case was investigated by the Texas Rangers, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Dallas Police Department, SMU Police Department, University Park Police Department, and the Hewitt Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy, Jay Dewald, and Matthew Kacsmaryk prosecuted the case.

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