After his daughter dies from a drug overdose, father helps in sting to capture her alleged drug dealers

Hope Schreiber
·Writer
Billy Miles helped police officers to arrange a sting to catch the men who sold his daughter Ashley, right, a deadly dose of heroin. (Photo: Facebook)
Billy Miles helped police officers to arrange a sting to catch the men who sold his daughter Ashley, right, a deadly dose of heroin. (Photo: Facebook)

A father in Shepherdsville, Ky., who is mourning the loss of his daughter after a drug overdose, helped to set up a sting to capture the men who allegedly sold her the drugs. Now, two people have been charged as a result of the father’s actions.

WLOX reports that a federal grand jury has charged the two people for possession of heroin that led to the death of the victim, according to U.S. attorney Russell M. Coleman.

Billy Miles describes finding his 21-year-old daughter, Ashley, in her room after she overdosed as the “scariest day” of his life. “Going upstairs and going in her room and seeing her, it just — it was like a nightmare waiting to wake up,” he told WLOX. “I was just waiting to wake up. And I never would wake up.”

Ashley passed away on Feb. 2. Miles remembers his daughter as happy and full of life, but struggling with addiction.

Shepherdsville police responded to the call of a suspected deadly overdose and found Ashley already dead. They also discovered what they believed to be heroin.

“When I found her that Saturday morning, it was like, ‘Man, there’s gotta be a way to catch these guys,'” Miles told the news outlet. “So, we got her cellphone and started scrolling through the cellphone, and we seen this number that popped up six, seven times in a row right within a half-hour.”

Using the phone number, the Shepherdsville police department and the Louisville Metro Police Department 9th Mobile Division organized a sting operation, which led them to Tawain (also known as Tajuan) McDowell, 18, and Aaron Shelton, 27. The two men have been charged with the possession of and intent to distribute heroin. Shelton was also charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, resulting in death.

Both counts in the federal indictment carry a prison term of 20 years to life without parole.

The Shepherdsville Police Department did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment. Billy Miles was unable to comment, due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.