Colorado woman in court after charges of overdose murders

DENVER - A Centennial woman who was arrested after four people associated with her died after mixing drugs has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with extreme indifference.

The Denver Post reports 51-year-old Almeda Sullivan entered her plea Monday for the death of 21-year-old Carter Higdon, who was found dead in Sullivan's home in October 2011. Sullivan is accused of selling Higdon and other young adults narcotic painkillers similar to oxycodone.

Court records say that in January 2008, 19-year-old Sierra Renee Cochran died in Sullivan's home after she accidently overdosed. Nine months later, 28-year-old Lindsey Jo Saidy and 20-year-old Martynas "Tez" Simanskas died after overdosing on prescription medications.

A judge ruled in August that Sullivan's connection to the first three deaths, combined with the similar circumstances of Higdon's death, support the murder charge.