(Watertown) A Watertown man charged in connection to an overdose death has made his initial appearance in court. Dayton Grunewald is facing a felony count of First-Degree Reckless Homicide.
Watertown police were dispatched to a residence on North Fourth Street in the city back in December of 2022. When EMS arrived on scene, they determined that the victim was dead of a suspect opiate overdose. The cause of death was confirmed to be from fentanyl toxicity.
Detectives soon learned that the victim visited a local business the night of his death and was seen getting in a white Subaru. Video surveillance footage was turned over to law enforcement, and multiple officers allegedly identified the driver of the Subaru as the defendant.
Messages obtained by authorities reportedly reveal Grunewald saying he drives a white Subaru and had asked the victim to use a controlled substance in front of him.
If convicted, the 20-year-old faces up to 40 years in prison. Cash bond was set at $500 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 14th.
