Florida man charged in death of ex-Vol Douglas

photo In this file photo, then Tennessee tackle Aaron Douglas eyes Georgia linebacker Darryl Gamble at Neyland Stadium in 2009.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The investigation into the spring death of Alabama football player Aaron Douglas resulted in an arrest Monday.

Fernandina Beach, Fla., cab driver Rodney Young Odum, 50, was charged Monday evening with manslaughter stemming from the May 12 death of the Crimson Tide and former Tennessee offensive lineman.

Police in the small northern Florida beach community believe Odum provided Douglas with two methadone pills while driving him to the late-night party where he eventually died. Odum also was charged with misdemeanor sale/deliver of a controlled substance. He was being held in Nassau County (Fla.) Jail with bond set at $50,000.

Douglas, 21, was found dead on a balcony of the party house the following morning. Autopsy results later determined he died from "multiple drug toxicity."

"The methadone alone was sufficient enough to cause death, while no other combination would have likely caused death," the report read.

According to WebMD.com, methadone can be used as a pain killer or to treat the addiction to narcotic drugs. The site also states the drug can cause "severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems and heartbeat problems."

How to charge Odum was the question for Fernandina Beach police once it learned he allegedly provided the lethal dose.

"The victim clearly shares some responsibility for the reckless behavior that took his life," Fernandina Beach police chief James Hurley wrote in a Tuesday news release. "However, Mr. Odum reportedly had a reputation as a mobile drug dealer, making it easy for the victim to locate and ingest the drugs that killed him."

Hurley noted the difficulty of pursuing such charges but hoped it would send a message in a state with a reputation as a "pill mill."

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he hoped this triggered a national crackdown on similar criminal activity.

"Nothing can erase the pain of what happened with Aaron," Saban said. "It was tough on our team when you lose a comrade and lose someone that's a part of your team. Certainly I think that at least now the person who did the wrongdoing is being held accountable for it, which is a positive thing. But nothing can really make that wrong right.

"It is good that maybe this person will be convicted and not be able to do this type of stuff to other young people."

Odum's family was in the headlines two years ago under much different circumstances. Rodney Odum II was recognized by the city commission for saving the lives of three tourists caught in a rip current. A public proclamation praising the younger Odum was read in the July 23, 2009, meeting.

The residents of the home where Douglas died were arrested in June. The four -- ages 21-24 -- were charged for throwing the party where underage attendees drank alcohol. Fernandina Beach police said 16 partygoers were younger than 21.

Douglas wasn't even headed to the fateful party when he set out the night of May 11. He reportedly left his group of friends and was taking a cab south to Jacksonville. He was on the way when two local women contacted him and extended an invitation to the Fernandina Beach party. He arrived at the party at 11 p.m., was last seen at 2 a.m. and was found unresponsive just after 8 a.m. Douglas was pronounced dead on the scene.

The former Maryville (Tenn.) High School standout transferred to Alabama in January and participated in the April A-Day Game after playing at Tennessee as a freshman in 2009 and at an Arizona junior college last fall.

Tide offensive lineman Barrett Jones said Douglas' locker in the Alabama football complex remained undisturbed when practice opened Aug. 5.

The grief over his death remains heavy entering the season.

"It took a couple days to really sink in," center William Vlachos said. "It wasn't really wasn't something that could hit you until you really had some time to think about it. It's a very unfortunate thing that happened. He was only here a short time, but everybody really liked him. It's tragic."

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