FARMINGTON — A Wilton man arrested in connection with the death of his girlfriend had his bail reduced Friday from $20,000 to $10,000 cash or real estate. It was the second time since his arrest in February bail has been reduced.

It was initially set at $75,000.

Roy Gordon, 42, of Wilton faces a felony charge of aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs that caused the death of another person, three felony counts of unlawful furnishing of illegal drugs and one misdemeanor charge of falsifying physical evidence.

He was one of five people arrested in connection with the death of Marilyn Rider, 52, of Farmington on Nov. 11, 2012. She died at her home on Silver Maple Lane in Farmington after a birthday party.

A report from the state Medical Examiner’s Office showed Rider died from acute morphine exposure.

Gordon’s attorney, Woody Hanstein, argued Friday for lower bail in Franklin County Superior Court. He told Justice Michaela Murphy that Gordon’s family could only come up without about $500 cash.

Hanstein said that Gordon would live with his sister in Temple.

Hanstein described Gordon as being “mentally retarded and cannot read or write.” Hanstein said he didn‘t like speaking of Gordon in that way, but he has gone over the situation with him.

He argued that his client has been overcharged regarding the aggravated trafficking of drugs that caused death of a person.

He is accused of using drugs for recreation with his adult girlfriend, and she had a worse reaction, he said.

It is his understanding, Hanstein said, that Rider was taking a number of drugs not known to Gordon.

He woke up and his girlfriend was dead, Hanstein said.

If his bail is not lowered to a reasonable amount, Hanstein said Gordon would sit in jail until June. The only alleged crime, he said, is that Gordon was using drugs. He added that he did not mean to minimize the woman’s death.

Assistant District Attorney James Andrews urged the court to read the probable cause document. He said several people were accused of injecting morphine into the victim. The probable cause document states that Gordon and a co-defendant, Scott Kidder, 32, of Wilton, bought morphine pills from Terry Oliver, 53, of Wilton, also a co-defendant.

Andrews said that document states that Gordon admitted to giving some of the pills to Ryder and she injected them herself. The document also states that Seth Gordon, 23, of Wilton, Roy Gordon’s son and a co-defendant, told police that all of Ryder’s doses were drawn up by Roy Gordon, Andrews said.

Hanstein said that all they have is preliminary information that death was caused by an overdose and morphine was a factor. He does not have the medical examiner’s report or any other discovery the state might have.

Andrews offered the discovery he currently has to Hanstein.

Murphy said that they need to get the full medical examiner’s report.

She said Gordon needs to be supervised while he is in the community and be subjected to random search and testing for illegal drugs.

She set bail at $10,000 cash or real estate plus a Maine pretrial contract.

Note: This story has been modified since it was first published to reflect that Seth Gordon is Roy Gordon’s son. The relationship was incorrectly reported by the Sun Journal.

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