On January 18, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the McDonald’s restaurant on NC Highway 211 in Seven Lakes. Deputies were dispatched in reference to assisting EMS with a male subject that appeared to be under the influence of an impairing substance.
When deputies arrived, they located Cody Michael Pennington, 24, of West End, deceased inside a passenger truck in the parking lot. The cause of death at that time was unknown, and an autopsy was later conducted by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Moore County Detectives investigating the case determined that three individuals were present when the victim was found deceased and failed to notify law enforcement of the death.
On January 18, Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrested Alan Franklin Monroe, 42, of West End. Monroe was charged with concealing/failure to report a death and other drug charges. On January 27, detectives arrested Casey Colon Tanner, 42, of Eagle Springs and Rodney Dale Cagle, 41, of Eagle Springs, and they were each charged with concealing/failure to report a death.
On June 4, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office received the autopsy report which revealed the cause of death. The autopsy report indicated that Pennington’s death was caused by heroin, methamphetamine, and clonazepam toxicity.
On June 15, detectives arrested Chiyako Brionte Tanner, 30, of Eagle Springs. Tanner was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, sell heroin, deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, sell methamphetamine, deliver methamphetamine, and involuntary manslaughter. Tanner was also charged with felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia after being found in her possession during the arrest. She was confined to the Moore County Detention Center under a $255,500 secured bond pending a first court appearance in District Court on July 8.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Photo: Top-bottom, left-right; Chiyako Brionte Tanner, Rodney Dale Cagle, Alan Franklin Monroe, and Casey Colon Tanner.