NEWS
Murder suspect pleads guilty to drug charges
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Michelle Orris:
- UW band to play pre- and post-game Music City Bowl (December 11, 2003)
- UW advertising project receives national attention for study (December 4, 2003)
- UW advertising project receives national attention for study (December 4, 2003)
- Greenberg telecasts live from Madison, lectures students (November 14, 2003)
Related Stories:
- Murder victim had cocaine, guns in apartment (February 10, 2003)
- Former UW student pleads guilty in drug case (August 30, 2002)
- Arizona State professor pleads guilty to involvement in ecstacy ring (February 18, 2003)
- Man pleads no contest in UW rapes (November 19, 2007)
- Police bust citywide cocaine ring (October 25, 2004)
by Michelle Orris
Monday, April 7, 2003
Murder suspect pleads guilty to drug charges
Michelle Orris
City Editor
A suspect in the December murder of a 19-year-old Fitchburg woman pleaded guilty to distributing crack cocaine Friday.
Fitchburg resident Thomas McCants, 23, could face as much as life or as little as 10 years in prison. His sentencing is set for June 19.
McCants originally told investigators the drugs belonged to his girlfriend, Lizzette Fountain, who was murdered Dec. 4. Police found cocaine, marijuana, a Rohm .38-caliber handgun and ammunition from a safe in the apartment McCants shared with Fountain. McCants told investigators he and Fountain had previously argued over the drugs, and he returned from work Dec. 4 to find her shot in the mouth.
McCant’s drug charges and sentencing are unrelated to Fountain’s murder, but Fitchburg police chief Tom Blatter said in February the drug charges factored into the investigation. Blatter said McCants is one of several murder suspects under investigation.
“The two cases parallel and are woven together,” Blatter said. “We haven’t ruled out anyone yet.”
McCants still faces charges of disorderly conduct from December 1999 and a bail-jumping charge from January 2002.
Fountain’s mother, Marie Fountain, has worked with city officials to put together a $5,000 reward fund for people with vital information who have not yet come forward.
To submit information to the investigation of Fountain’s murder, call Crime Stoppers at 270-4321 or 270-4300.
