Alabama dad charged with murder of son forced to take drugs

August 8, 2023

An Alabama man died from a drug overdose after he was forced to ingest narcotics — leading to felony murder charges for his dad and two neighbors, police said.

Landon Tyler Rader, 26, was found dead inside a Jasper home on March 27 after being forced to take meth and/or amphetamines by his dad, Jamie Landon Rader, 48, and neighbors Ryan Dustin Clark, 24, and Tonya Raye Keene, 43, according to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

London’s dad grinned in his booking photo as he and his neighbors were charged with felony murder, manslaughter and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.

Sheriff Nick Smith told a press conference Monday that the case is the “first time murder charges have been brought because of a drug overdose” in the county’s history.

As soon as police had arrived at the scene, things didn’t appear to match a typical overdose, leading police on a months-long investigation to uncover what happened to Rader, the sheriff said.

Jamie Landon Rader, 48, is accused of forcing his son to ingest drugs that caused his overdose death in March.

“What makes this one more significant than a regular overdose is that this was a forced ingestion,’’ Smith said.

“This was not just an individual who voluntarily took a controlled substance.”

Ryan Dustin Clark in his booking photo. — Neighbor Ryan Dustin Clark was arrested Sunday along with the other two suspects.

Tonya Raye Keene in her booking photo. — Tonya Raye Keene was also arrested for Landon Rader’s death.

Capt. Darrell Mote noted that not only was Rader forced to take the drugs, but that the three suspects all failed to call 911 or administer aid to the dying man.

Mote said that if 911 was called sooner or if NARCAN was provided, Rader would still be alive today.

Prior to his arrest, the accused dad had been active on social media slamming those claiming he was behind his son’s death, accusing them of spreading conspiracy theories.