Four facing meth related charges

Four people are facing charges related to the Sunday discovery of a methamphetamine lab near Hogate Hall on the DePauw University campus.

Donald Evans, 29, and Patricia J. Shaw, 26, both of Greencastle, are incarcerated following the discovery, while Gregory and Stacey Murphy are both facing charges, but are not in jail.

At 4:18 p.m. Sunday, Greencastle Police Officer Darrel Bunten was dispatched to assist DePauw Police Officer Matt Demmings regarding a possible meth lab. DePauw students had discovered the suspicious items in the tree line just west of the Hogate parking lot at the intersection of Locust and Ohio streets.

Upon arrival, Bunten found a small shoebox secured with black electrical tape, a glass jar containing coffee filters and a white crystallized substance, a white grocery bag containing several plastic bottles also containing a white crystallized substance, a clear liquid with an odor of anhydrous ammonia and a camouflage backpack which contained glass jars with tubes coming from the top.

Officers secured the scene and requested the assistance of the Indiana State Meth Lab Team.

Investigation of the shoebox revealed several partially full and empty pill bottles, several miscellaneous pills, Wal-Mart receipts, small lengths of blue tubing, thermometers and other miscellaneous items.

Officers then investigated the receipts from Wal-Mart and with the assistance from Wal-Mart management determined that a male identified as Evans had purchased Equate brand of Pseudoephedrine on August 12.

Officers then learned that Donald Evans was at Burger King, his place of employment. They detained Evans and interviewed him regarding discovered meth lab.

Evans told officer he was aware of the lab at his apartment at 1001 S. Indiana St., but said it was not his. He said upon discovery of the lab, he moved it to the Hogate Hall tree line because he did not want it to be near his daughter.

After questioning Evans, officers arrived at his apartment and spoke to Shaw, to whom they explained what had transpired with Evans. With Shaw's consent, they searched the residence, where they discovered a bag of marijuana and several blue straws matching those found at the meth lab.

Gregory and Stacey Murphy were also found inside the apartment.

Evans was booked into the Putnam County Jail at 11:21 p.m. and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; possession of precursors; possession of anhydrous ammonia; dumping controlled substance waste; improper storage, handling, use or transportation of anhydrous ammonia; maintaining a common nuisance; and neglect of a dependent.

Shaw was booked in at 3:25 a.m. Monday and charged with maintaining a common nuisance, neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana.

Gregory and Stacey Murphy were each charged with visiting a common nuisance. Further charges could be filed upon the review of the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office.