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Simpson County Physician Accused in Drug Overdoses Pleads Guilty

A Franklin physician has admitted to illegally prescribing pain and anti-anxiety medicine that resulted in two deaths.

Roy Reynolds pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green to charges that he illegally prescribed controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. 

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky, Reynolds had two patients under his care die from drug overdoses.  One was a 46-year-old man with a history of illegal drug use and psychiatric issues that were documented in his patient charts.  Two days prior to his death, Dr. Reynolds prescribed him 180 Oxycodone pills and 90 Xanax tablets.  Dr. Reynolds is also accused in the death of a 41-year-old man with a history of doctor shopping and drug and alcohol abuse.  An autopsy of his body showed Hydrocodone at 30 times the therapeutic concentration. 

If convicted at trial, Reynolds could have faced up to 30 years in prison, though his plea agreement will likely result in a lesser sentence.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.