Date rape drug possibly involved in death of woman left overnight in pickup truck

By Walter GeigerThe date rape drug GHB may have been involved in the death of 35-year-old Meagan Nichole McNair who died after being left in the cab of a pickup truck for an extended period by a man, originally described as her boyfriend, who has now been arrested.Jerry Odell Spires, 53, was arrested Feb. 26 on one count of concealing the death of another.********************NOTICE:This story and photo(s) are under copyright. They may not be republished or disseminated in any form or format – including social media – without explicit permission.*********************At a first appearance hearing later that day, Spires’s bond was set by Judge Kathy Martin at $20,000. He made bond later that day and was released.Spires drove McNair to Upson Regional Medical Center Feb. 12 where she was pronounced dead. He told investigators he and McNair arrived at his home at 246 Old Alabama Road in Milner Feb. 11 and she was asleep in the truck. He said he put a blanket over her and left her in the truck overnight. He said he checked on McNair before leaving for work on Feb. 12 and she was still asleep so he left her there. When he returned home and she was still in the truck, he drove to the hospital.A search warrant at the home was executed Feb. 18. As a result of that search, investigators asked the state crime lab for expedited toxicology results in the case due to a suspicion of an overdose. Another search of the residence was conducted last week and turned up possible traces of GHB. There is also evidence a second male may be involved in the case.’We sent some more stuff to the crime lab last week including some possible GHB. We are still waiting on the toxicology results. The investigation is ongoing. More charges against Spires and other arrests are possible,’ sheriff Brad White said Monday.GHB is short for Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid which is sometimes prescribed as Xyrem. It is known on the street as G, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid X, Scoop and Liquid Ecstasy, according to the DEA. It comes in liquid and powder forms and is often mixed in drinks in the date rape scenario.Effects include hallucinations. Overdosing can lead to unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, greatly slowed breathing, decrease in body temperature, vomiting, nausea, coma and subsequent death.