News

Local hotel deaths believed to be overdoses

By Bill Moss, Published: February 12, 2016

Investigators suspect drug overdoses caused the deaths of two men in their 30s who were found dead at the Mountain Inn and Suites on Upward Road Friday morning.

Emergency responders were called to the hotel when the two unresponsive men were found. Upon their arrival, medical responders found the two men both unresponsive. Officials identified them as John Matthew Tucker, 33, of Bald Knob, Arkansas and Leonard Paul Lefford Jr.,  34, of Allegan, Mich. Henderson County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the incident. The cause of death remains under investigation pending results from the medical examiner’s office.

"Based on the evidence at the scene our suspicion is it was a drug overdose," Henderson County Sheriff’s Maj. Frank Stout said. "We are not suspecting foul play at this time based on the evidence we found in the room."

Investigators checked ventilation and gas connections and ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, he said.