BATON ROUGE - Sheriff's detectives accused a Baton Rouge man of murder for dealing heroin which caused someone to die from an overdose earlier this year.

Deputies charged 24-year-old Brandon Jamal Parker with second degree murder and possession with intent to distribute heroin for the March 7 death of 20-year-old James "Alex" Brasfield.

Investigators said witnesses told them Parker sold the heroin to Brasfield on March 6. Brasfield then went back to his home in Denham Springs where he took the heroin, went to sleep and did not wake up.

Parker was originally arrested on July 29 for unrelated drug charges. Detectives added the murder and distribution charge Thursday.

This comes on the heels of a new push by authorities in East Baton Rouge Parish to stem an increase in heroin and mojo-related deaths. Coroner Beau Clark released a series of public service announcements to warn potential users of the danger from such overdoses.