GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – We’re learning more about an Ashwaubenon woman accused of supplying the heroin which caused her son to overdose last month.
53-year-old Elizabeth Woods is facing 4 felony counts, including first-degree recklessly endangering safety and maintaining a drug trafficking place.
According to the criminal complaint, Ashwaubenon Public Safety officers responded to her home in the 2800 block of Viking Drive on April 27 for a man who overdosed, was pulseless and not breathing.
Woods told officers that her son, identified as 22-year-old Nicholas Hermes, had overdosed on heroin after having outpatient surgery earlier that day.
“He (Hermes) has a drug problem,” Woods stated.
22-year-old Chelsea Petts, who is Hermes’ girlfriend, told officers that all three of them live at that house. A nurse who lives next door told police that both Woods and Petts came over because Hermes had overdosed.
The nurse saw Hermes on the floor of their bathroom and used Narcan on him.
Officers searched the house and found lots of drug paraphernalia in plain view, in multiple rooms, many of them, “already used and dirty.”
Hermes was taken into custody and said he would, “take the heroin” charge. He also said that Woods supplies all the drugs and Petts is the only person that knew how to “cook.”
During a police interview, Hermes said he was picked up at a local hospital around 3 p.m. by a woman and Petts. All three went to the Viking Drive residence, with the woman stating, “Raise your spoons,” something they say before they use heroin. Hermes admits that all 3 of them use heroin daily.
Woods, during her interview with investigators, say that around 8 a.m. she got a phone call from the hospital that Hermes had to have surgery to remove an abscess from his arm. She said she had about 0.15 grams of heroin left in the house, so Woods split that with Petts before leaving for the hospital. Woods described it as taking the heroin to keep at an, “even keel.”
Once Hermes went into the recovery room after surgery, Woods and Petts drove to Appleton to meet up with someone to buy heroin. They met at a hotel near the Fox River Mall. Woods bought a half-gram of heroin for $100. Both drove back to the area.
The heroin taken that afternoon was what Woods purchased in Appleton, according to the complaint. After using, Hermes got up from the kitchen table and walked to the bathroom. Woods, at that point, heard thumping on the bathroom door and went to check on her son. She saw Hermes lying on the bathroom floor but he was breathing. Woods told Petts to call 911 at that point.
Woods admitted to authorities that she’s out on bond for a heroin overdose that happened to her in Appleton.
Elizabeth Woods is due back in court Friday for an adjourned initial appearance. If convicted on all counts, Woods faces over 30 years in prison.
Hermes was arrested on charges of possession of heroin, possession with intent to abuse a hazardous substance, keeper of a drug house and possession of drug paraphernalia. Petts is facing charges of possession of heroin, possession with intent to abuse a hazardous substance, keeper of a drug house and possession of drug paraphernalia.
