2 sentenced in overdose death of 17-year-old Woodbury girl

Published 3:55 pm Saturday, January 24, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — Two men have been sentenced for providing a synthetic drug to a 17-year-old girl who died of an overdose in Woodbury.

Reports said 20-year-old Alexander Lee Claussen and 19-year-old Cole Alexander Matenaer were convicted of third-degree murder in the January 2014 death of Tara Fitzgerald.

Claussen was sentenced Friday to over 6 years in prison, and Matenaer was sentenced to 1 year in jail and 15 years’ probation.

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Fitzgerald was a Woodbury High School junior.

Three other teens were also charged. Now 18, they were 17-year-old Woodbury High School students when they were charged. Prosecutors are seeking to have them certified to adult court. They have hearings in February and March.