Nagareddy was indicted on Wednesday by a grand jury in Clayton County, Georgia. The psychiatrist, who has been dubbed “Dr. Death,” faces three counts of felony murder and 59 counts of unauthorized distribution of controlled substances. The indictments allege drugs such as oxycodone and methadone were prescribed outside the normal practice of a psychiatrist and for non-medical reasons. He is accused of running a “pill mill.”
Nagareddy, 57, first came to the attention of the authorities after a probation officer noticed three people he was supervising died while being under Nagareddy’s care. She reported him to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
As Digital Journal previously reported, Nagareddy was first arrested on Jan. 14, 2016 after his home and office were raided. It was alleged that time 36 patients died while under his care and 12 of these deaths resulted from drug overdoses. The doctor was accused of prescribing opiates and other controlled substances when there was no medical necessity for these patients to receive them.
The three counts of murder relate to the deaths of a 49-year-old man and two women, ages 29 and 47. AJC.com reports Nagareddy was only charged in cases where the deaths actually occurred in Clayton County. It is up to prosecutors in other counties where Nagareddy’s patients died to decide if charges are warranted.
Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham-Lawson told Channel 2 News she could not comment on a motive. She added the community will now be safer because Nagareddy will no longer be writing prescriptions.
As he did after the January arrest, Nagareddy’s attorney, Steven Frey, said his client will vigorously defend the matter and he is innocent of all these charges.
Nagareddy had been under house arrest since his release after the January charges were laid. He was taken to the Clayton County Jail after his arrest on Wednesday and will remain there until a bond hearing is held.
The psychiatrist is scheduled to be arraigned on July 7 and his trial is set to start Aug. 8.
