Friday, January 27, 2012

Four indicted for Jasper County heroin trafficking connected to death of Alan Cockrell's son

A federal grand jury has indicted four people on heroin trafficking charges. The indictment was unsealed Thursday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Those indicted were Lavar D. Beard, 33, Ashley Henson, 24; Jason E. Hirshey, 31; and Brian D. Ferguson, 26.

The indictment indicates that Beard "did knowingly and intentionally distribute heroin, and as a result of the use of this heroin, Ryan Cockrell died."

Cockrell's death is not mentioned on the charges against the other three. Cockrell is the son of former major league outfielder, longtime coach, and former Joplin Parkwood all-state quarterback Alan Cockrell.

Cockrell, an employee of Commercial Gasket Company, Joplin, died August 19, 2011, at Freeman Hospital.

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