Man indicted for overdose murder of young Grimesland mother

A Greenville man has been indicted for murder after police say he caused the overdose death of a young mother of two this summer.

Ernest Thompson was arrested today after a grand jury indicted him earlier this week with an open count of murder.

Police say back on July 31st, detectives were called to the Baymont Inn & Suites on South Memorial Drive after a relative found Kaelyn Rich, of Grimesland, dead in a motel room. Police say they determined the 21-year-old died from an apparent heroin overdose.

Officers received evidence that pointed to Thompson as the woman's drug supplier.

"Having seen a personal friend suffer through the loss of his daughter to a drug overdose, I am deeply affected by cases such as this," said Chief Mark Holtzman. "Drug addiction is a chronic disease."

Thompson was jailed without bond.