BEDFORD – A Lawrence County Superior Court II jury has acquitted a Bloomington man for his participation in providing drugs that caused the death of a Bedford woman.
Arron Reynolds, 35, was facing charges of knowingly or intentionally delivering fentanyl to 39-year-old Erika Asbury of Bedford, which led to her death. He has been released from jail.
Asbury died on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Judge Robert Cline presided over the four-day trial. Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel Arp presented the case to the State, and Chief Public Defender Tim Sledd represented Reynolds.
According to the charging information by Indiana State Police, Bedford Police officers responded to 1707 4th Street in Bedford on May 25th at 1:03 a.m. after a report of a death. The male caller reported he found Asbury on the floor and cold to the touch.
The male caller reported he had found Asbury, his girlfriend, unresponsive. An autopsy was performed later that day by Forensic Pathologist Dr. James Jacobi, who confirmed Asbury died from Fentanyl toxicity. Dr. Jacobi indicated in his report that a crushed blue pill was retrieved from within Asbury’s brassiere during the autopsy.
On August 29, 2023, Indiana State Police received additional information regarding Asbury’s death. A relative of Asbury reported he found conversations on Facebook between Asbury and a person using the name Fishtopher Robenz. During the discussion, Asbury requested drugs.
With the assistance of the Bloomington Police Department, it is believed that Arron Reynolds utilizes Fishtopher Robenz’s Facebook profile.
The conversation was just hours before Asbury’s death. Below is some of the conversation:
Erika: “Will it kill me though? It’s been a while”
Fishtopher: “No”
Fishtopher: “It’s good af tho”
Erika: “It’s been about 2 years….”
Erika: “How much for half a t?”
Fishtopher: “How much u wanting to spend it’s easier this way”
Fishtopher: “Lmfao”
Erika: “I wanna feel it but not wind up in the hospital lol…I believe that was the last time that happened”
Erika: “Like 20”
Fishtopher: “Ok I got ya”
Erika: “I’m coming”
Fishtopher: “I’m at”
Erika: “From Bedford though so give me 40 min. Gotta stop at bank”
Fishtopher: “Ok hun sounds good”
Erika: “Are you sure I’ll be ok? I just need to get rid of some anxiety”
Fishtopher: “Ya I’m positive”
Erika: “Where you at?”
Fishtopher: “If you want you can do it with me so you know you’re safe Crawford”
Erika: “Ok”
Erika: “I’m not shooting”
Fishtopher: “Cool”
Erika: “Bout to be there”
Fishtopher: “Ok in building 2 I’m in 322”
Erika: “Can you come to my car?”
Fishtopher: “U here”
Fishtopher: “What u in”
Erika: “Almost..white Toyota”
The message from Asbury stating “Bout to be there” was timestamped for 10:06 p.m. on May 24, 2023.
Police then searched Asbury’s cell phone and received records from her bank noting she did withdraw $40 from her account at an ATM on May 24th at 9:48 p.m.
On May 24, Asbury worked a 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. shift at the Marathon station at 401 16th Street.
Police then found video surveillance from Crawford Apartments, located at 2446 South Henderson Street in Bloomington, showing Asbury’s white Toyota Yaris arriving at the complex on the evening of May 24th and a male approaching her vehicle. There was a short transaction, and Asbury left. Reynolds lives at that apartment complex.
Reynolds was arrested on Wednesday, September 12th, at approximately 9:30 a.m. by detectives from the Indiana State Police’s Drug Enforcement Section, South Zone ERT, Bloomington District Troopers, and Jasper District Troopers at the Crawford Apartments in Bloomington. He was arrested without incident, and a search warrant was executed at his apartment.
