Woman Accused In Mother’s Morphine Overdose Death Surrenders In Columbia County

A woman accused of giving her mother a lethal dose of morphine while she was a resident at Marshall Pines Assisted Living & Memory Care in Evans in 2023 was in court in Columbia County on Wednesday.

Rachel Waters, who lives in New York City, drove to Evans to surrender to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Wednesday morning, following her indictment a week ago on charges of malice and felony murder.

Waters' mother, 74-year-old Marsha Sprayberry Foster, had Alzheimer's disease, was in severe pain and was under hospice care at the time of her death July 12, 2023 at Marshall Pines.

In fact, the morphine had reportedly been left behind by hospice workers. It's used for pain relief and comfort during the end-of-life process.

An indictment accuses Waters of giving her mother the lethal dose of the medication without authorization.

Personnel at Marshall Pines reportedly became suspicious after Sprayberry Foster's death and notified the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

Waters was indicted after autopsy results revealed the cause of the victim's death was a lethal dose of morphine.

After she was charged Wednesday morning, Waters attended a bond hearing at the Columbia County Courthouse at 2:00 pm.

Judge Barry Fleming granted Waters a $200,000 bond, which she posted. Waters was also ordered to surrender her passport, not travel outside the country, and possess no firearms.

During the bond hearing, Chief Assistant District Attorney Natalie Paine acknowledged Water's mother had reportedly tried to end her life twice in the weeks before her death. She added she did not believe that Sprayberry Foster's life ended with any ill-will or financial gain intended.