FAIRMONT — A Truman man has pleaded guilty to second-degree man-slaughter and a felony drug charge in Martin County District Court.

Troy Meeker, 52, entered the plea in connection with the death of 24-year-old Mariah Miller. Authorities say Meeker injected Miller with a lethal dose of drugs.

Another charge of third-degree murder will be dismissed upon sentencing, set for Oct. 25.

The plea deal includes a sentence of more than 10 years, but with credit for time served Meeker will serve about six years in prison and the remaining time on supervised release.

According to the original complaint:

On Aug. 19, 2018, police were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of West Ciro Street in Truman on a report of a deceased woman. The reporting party, later identified as Meeker, indicated he found Miller’s body inside his residence.

Upon arrival, a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy spoke with Meeker, who indicated Miller had been staying at his residence on and off since Aug. 9. Meeker said Miller returned to his residence on the morning of Aug. 18 and was “acting weird.” He said he thought she was either high on drugs or drunk.

Meeker said that at about 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Aug. 18, he left his house, and Miller was lying on the floor. Meeker said Miller was alive at that time.

He said he came home about 4 a.m. Aug. 19 and went to bed.

Meeker said his bed was in the same room Miller was in. He said he woke up about 9 a.m. and exited the room to make a cup of coffee. When he returned, he discovered Miller was dead.

Officers entered Meeker’s building. Inside was an antique business. Officers walked downstairs to the basement where there was a makeshift bedroom. As a deputy entered the room, he observed the body lying on the floor. Officers checked for a pulse and determined Miller was dead.

Officers from the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were dispatched to the scene.

Meeker agreed to give investigators a formal statement and was transported to the Martin County Law Enforcement Center. He said he was aware that Miller used illegal substances. Meeker said he had given her meth about two weeks prior.

Meeker said that on Aug. 18, he and Miller had a sexual encounter and she ended up on the floor. He said he got her a pillow and a blanket and left his house between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and at that time she seemed all right.

Meeker then returned home around 3 a.m. Aug. 19. Meeker again said he had gone to sleep with Miller still lying on the floor, awoke at 9 a.m. and discovered Miller was dead, calling 911 for assistance at about 9:30 a.m.

Witnesses later told police that Meeker had told them he knew Miller was dying or dead before he returned to the property Aug. 19. A witness also said Meeker said he had helped Miller inject drugs Aug. 18.

An autopsy performed on Miller revealed a positive result for meth in her blood and a final anatomic diagnosis including methamphetamine toxicity.