Wanted woman surrenders, ordered held on $250K cash bond in drug death
By Brandi Makuski
A town of Grant woman is being held on a $250,000 cash bond for her alleged role in the fatal drug overdose of a man from Plover.
After more than four months on the lam, Natalie Sullivan, 46, surrendered to police on the evening of Feb. 1. She appeared for a bond hearing by video from the Portage Co. Jail before Judge Louis Molepske, Jr., on Feb. 2.
Sullivan was represented for the hearing by attorney Anne Renc from the public defender’s office. District Attorney Cass Cousins represented the State.
Sullivan has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide/party to the crime, which comes with a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison upon conviction, and delivering narcotics/party to the crime. The latter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted.
Both counts have repeat offender modifiers, according to court records, meaning that if she is convicted, additional time could be added to Sullivan’s sentence.
Police say Sullivan is believed to have sold a lethal dose of narcotics that ultimately led to a man’s death.
Plover officers were called to the 2400 block of Plover Springs Dr. on Aug. 14, 2023, when a woman reported that she hadn’t been able to get in touch with her son. Officers made entry to the home and found the man’s body, which was sent to Madison for an autopsy.
Results of the exam show that the man died of a “mixed drug toxicity” overdose of fentanyl-laced methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint.
During their investigation, detectives found several text messages on the man’s phone indicating that Sullivan was his drug supplier “on a regular basis,” the complaint said.
Sullivan sold the man “a gram of heroin for $150” on Aug. 11 in the kitchen area of the man’s residence, the complaint said. After Sullivan and another man left, and the victim and his roommate reportedly snorted the substance.
The roommate told police that the substance caused him to nod off, but the victim became “groggy” sometime after midnight on Aug. 12 and ultimately lost consciousness. The roommate attempted CPR and administered Narcan, but he was unable to rouse the victim.
Investigators were able to confirm parts of the roommate’s story via still photos captured by an internal surveillance system that had been installed in the home.
Detectives found several text messages between the victim and Sullivan about the narcotics buy, and they pinged Sullivan’s cell phone to verify her location at the victim’s home on Aug. 11, 2023.
Cousins requested that Sullivan be held on a $500,000 cash bond, and argued in a brief that Sullivan’s alleged actions meet the definition of a violent crime under state standards.
He also said Sullivan had already missed two voluntary court appearances in the case, was aware of the warrant, and “made significant efforts to avoid detection” including staying off social media, turning off her phone, staying away from her address of record, and avoiding using her vehicle.
Renc argued for “a more reasonable” bond, saying Sullivan was a lifelong resident of Portage Co. and that some consideration should be given based on the fact that she turned herself in.
Molepske said that Sullivan’s missed court appearances were ultimately the deciding factor for a high cash bond, though he ordered a lower cash bond of $250,000.
Sullivan returns to court on Feb. 5 for an initial appearance.
