LAURENS CORONER: SOLDIER DIED OF COCAINE OVERDOSE

CLINTON - Laurens County Coroner Nick Nichols said he has ruled the cause
of Marlon X. Dendy's cause of death to be agitated delirium with collapse
due to a cocaine overdose.

Dendy, 27, of Route 3 Box 573, Clinton, who had just arrived home on leave
from the Army, broke into a home on Centennial Street Aug. 18, according to
Police Chief Carroll Barker.

An elderly woman was in the home at the time with her son, Barker said. The
pair startled the intruder and he jumped out of a first-floor window,
collapsing in the front yard, Barker said.

When authorities arrived, they found Dendy dead. An autopsy showed there
was no body trauma, Barker said.

"This is a very tragic death to occur in our city," Barker said. "During
this weeklong investigation we received a large amount of intelligence. I
want drug dealers to know we're coming. We won't tolerate drug sales in our
city."

Barker said Dendy had no criminal record and the incident is still under
investigation.