Autopsy: Woman suing deputy died of overdose

The Soddy-Daisy woman who was baptized by a former Hamilton County deputy during a traffic stop died of an accidental drug overdose, according to the medical examiner.

Shandle Marie Riley, 42, who was found unresponsive by her landlord at her

home at Log Cabin Road in Soddy-Daisy on April 13, died of an accidental overdose of methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s report.

According to a news release by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Hamilton County deputies who responded to the call excused themselves from the investigation, passing it on to the bureau. The release also stated the bureau would perform an investigation into Riley’s death at the request of Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston.

Riley was suing Hamilton County, former Deputy Daniel Wilkey and former Deputy Jacob Goforth for allegedly baptizing her against her will on the evening of Feb. 6, 2019.

Wilkey pulled Riley over shortly after 9 p.m. as she was driving through the Soddy-Daisy area. Riley confessed to Wilkey that she was in possession of a marijuana roach, court documents said.

Wilkey told Riley that “God was talking to him” and assured her if she got baptized, he would only write her a citation and she would go free and about her business, according to the lawsuit filed April 4.

The baptism took place in Soddy Lake and was recorded by another deputy, Goforth, on his cellphone.

Although U.S. District Court Judge Travis R. McDonough dismissed portions of the lawsuit, he allowed the remainder to proceed.

Wilkey was indicted on 44 charges by a Hamilton County Criminal Court grand jury in December 2019. Some of those

counts were in connection with alleged illegal drug searches, an alleged illegal roadside body cavity search and alleged groping of female minors during two separate traffic stops.

According to Hamilton County Criminal Court records, Wilkey is scheduled to appear before Judge Barry Steelman on

May 30.