Murder Charges Dropped In Odenton Overdose Death

ODENTON, MD — An Odenton woman is no longer charged with murder in the death of a woman who overdosed on heroin, but manslaughter charges may be filed in the case, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun. Gennie Rae Peterson, 45, of Chapelgate Drive in Odenton, was initially charged with murder and drug crimes on Nov. 30 in the death of Dawn Marie Laster of Odenton.

But Anne Arundel County prosecutors dropped the murder charges a day later, according to Maryland online court records. The State's Attorney's office told the newspaper the murder charges were filed in error by the District Court Commissioner’s Office.

Authorities allege Peterson sold Dawn Marie Laster a mix of heroin and fentanyl, which led to her fatal overdose on March 6. Police recommended that Peterson be charged with involuntary manslaughter, and Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Robinson said the office will review the case with plans to consider charging her with involuntary manslaughter, the Sun reports.

Peterson still faces ten charges ranging from drug trafficking to reckless endangerment, court records show.

Laster and a man were charged with burglary a year ago with sawing their way through the back wall of a commercial building in Odenton, tripping a security alarm early one morning. Anne Arundel County Police found a hole in the wall behind two 6-foot water-holding tanks and used a Sheetrock saw to cut a hole in the wall.

Photo of Gennie Rae Peterson, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police