BRISTOL MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER FOR SUPPLYING LETHAL DOSE OF HEROIN

BLOUNTVILLE - In the first case of its kind in Sullivan County, prosecutors
have gotten a conviction of murder by distribution of heroin.

Russell Wayne Canter, 48, of Bristol, entered an Alford plea of guilty
Friday afternoon to second-degree murder in the Oct. 30, 1998, death of
Seth Guyer. Canter agreed to an 18-year prison sentence.

Guyer's body was found Nov. 10, 1998, inside his truck in a remote area of
Hickory Tree by hunters. Investigators found evidence of drug use at the
scene and initially thought it was just a death by overdose.

But as the investigation progressed, Sullivan County Sheriff's Department
Detective Steve Williams began to receive information that Canter had
supplied the dose of heroin that according to an autopsy caused Guyer's death.

Assistant District Attorney Barry Staubus told Judge Phyllis Miller that if
the case had gone to trial, several witnesses would testify that a group of
people were gathered at Canter's apartment using drugs.

Canter allegedly left the apartment and returned later with heroin. Staubus
said witnesses would testify that Canter actually injected Guyer with the
dose of heroin that killed him.

Staubus said an autopsy report showed a lethal amount of morphine in
Guyer's system and that Medical Examiner Dr. Gretel Harlan would testify
that heroin breaks down into morphine over time and that Guyer had been
dead for some time when his body was discovered.

Canter's sentence of 18 years must be served at 100 percent, but he can
receive up to 15 percent reduction credits from the Department of
Correction, said Miller.

He has been jailed since his arrest in 1999.