Man who Supplied Drugs that Killed Jail Inmate Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced the man who supplied the fentanyl that killed a St. Francois County jail inmate to 16 years in prison.

Garry W. Triplett, now 38, supplied drugs including fentanyl to jail inmate Timothy L. Noll, 35, of Park Hills, Missouri. Noll had arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, and instructed an intermediary to get the drugs from Triplett and conceal them in a Bible. Triplett supplied at least three grams each of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Noll planned to sell the drugs inside the facility.

When on August 2, Noll discovered he was being sent to state prison and couldn’t bring the Bible, he had jail staff give it to his cellmate. His cellmate died two days later of mixed drug intoxication, including from a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Triplett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Noll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances with death resulting and one count of distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting.

The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone prosecuted the case.