Suspect Force-Fed Ex-Roommate 'Massive' Amounts of Fentanyl Before Stuffing Body in Freezer: Prosecutors

Mar. 15, 2025

FOX5 Las Vegas/YouTube; Monique Gilbertson/Facebook

A Nevada resident arrested in connection with a former roommate’s killing allegedly force-fed the 68-year-old woman fentanyl and stuffed her in a freezer, prosecutors say.

Monique Gilbertson wasfound dead in a freezerduring a welfare check in her Las Vegas home in November, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in apress releaseat the time.

Monique Gilbertson.Monique Gilbertson Facebook

Monique Gilbertson Facebook

The investigation began after police received a request on Nov. 6 for a wellness check from a person who said they had not seen Gilbertson since Oct. 22,8 News Nowreported at the time.

Officers responding to the residence encountered Roush and another person, per LVMPD’s statement, but the two were allegedly not able to speak to Gilbertson’s whereabouts.

Police then conducted a search and found Gilbertson “folded up” inside a freezer, Clark County Deputy District Attorney James Puccinelli said on Friday, Jan. 10, according to8 News Now.

Roush, who police say used to live with the victim, allegedly told police they found Gilbertson unconscious with drug paraphernalia around her, according to FOX 5, KTNV and 8 News Now.

“I put her in the icebox because I didn’t know what to do,” Roush told police, per FOX 5.

Now Puccinelli alleges Roush actually administered “massive amounts of fentanyl” to Gilbertson in a bid to “go into her house and take over her life,” 8 News Now reported.

At the time of her death, Gilbertson reportedly had about 200 times the lethal dose of fentanyl for a human in her system, Puccinelli said.

Las Vegas woman whose body was found in freezer let suspects live with her, neighbors say

However, Gilbertson soon became disappointed with her new roommate because of Roush’s cleanliness issues and suspected they were stealing from her, per police. Gilbertson kicked Roush out, 8 News Now and theLas Vegas Review Journalreported, citing authorities.

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Roush has been charged with murder, abuse of an elderly and several-drug related offenses, including administering drugs in the commission of a felony, according to court records.

source: people.com