Derek Beck

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — A Camdenton man who was originally charged with manslaughter in the death of his mother has been cleared of her death and pleaded guilty to a lesser drug-related charge.

Derek Beck was charged with 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter in January of 2021 after his mother died in what authorities thought was a drug overdose from narcotics Beck had allegedly given her.

But in a statement issued on Oct. 5, Beck's attorney Lauren McGrady said the charge against Beck was in spite of an autopsy report that his mother had died "from a combination of several natural causes and multiple drug intoxication from her prescription medication." 

McGrady says it was more than a year before those autopsy results were received by the defense.

"About a month after taking office, Richelle Grosvenor rightfully amended the manslaughter charge down to the drug charge to which Derek pleaded guilty. In doing so, Derek has taken accountability for his past history with addiction and committed himself to sobriety," she said. 

The full statement from McGrady is below:

It is our understanding that the previous prosecuting attorney received an autopsy report in early 2021 that revealed Derek's mother died from a combination of several natural causes and multiple drug intoxication from her prescription medication.

Toxicology screens confirmed that she had only citalopram (Celexa), hyrdroxyzine (an antihistamine), gabapentin, marijuana, caffeine, and nicotine in her system when she passed. We received that autopsy in April 2022.

About a month after taking office, Richelle Grosvenor rightfully amended the manslaughter charge down to the drug charge to which Derek pleaded guilty. In doing so, Derek has taken accountability for his past history with addiction and committed himself to sobriety.

As his attorney, I am very proud of the way Derek has grown over the past three years and I am glad he will finally have the opportunity to properly grieve his mother's passing.

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