Waukesha Woman Faces Homicide Charge in Methadone Overdose Death

A 41-year-old Waukesha woman faces a reckless homicide charge after giving methadone to a 26-year-old man in Hartland, according to a criminal complaint.

Beth A. Irving also was charged Wednesday with delivery of methadone and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted of the three charges, she faces up to 35 years in prison and $150,500 in fines.

Hartland police officers were called to 335 Hartridge Drive after it was reported that Corey S. Patz, of Brookfield, was not breathing and was unconscious on March 27. The responding police lieutenant found Irving giving Patz CPR and took over the chest compressions.

Patz later died at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

The lieutenant interviewed Irving, but she appeared to be lying and was providing limited information. She told the officer she fell asleep and woke up to find Patz on the floor. She also denied having any drugs that Patz may have taken, according to the complaint.

The lieutenant searched Patz’s room and located drug paraphernalia in the room. Another officer found Irving’s prescription for methadone in  a pink lockbox, however, the bottle was empty, the complaint states. The officer also located a spoon, a lighter, two unopened packages of sleeping pills, ball point pens, Kleenex, a thumb drive and tweezers with white powder on them.

Irving later admitted to selling her methadone prescription to Patz for $20. Irving and Patz also crushed up Xanax and snorted it, she told police, the complaint states.

Irving said she sold the methadone after Patz asked her for help because he was out of his Suboxone prescription.

“You gotta help me out, babe,” Patz told Irving, according to the complaint. “I help you out.”

The Waukesha County medical examiner’s office concluded Patz’ cause of death was methadone and Xanax intoxication.

Patz’s obituary states he was a Brookfield resident.