A rural Pella man faces numerous criminal charges after a woman died in his home of an apparent overdose Thursday.

Owner George Hettinga, age 65, has been charged with manufacturing marijuana, a class B felony, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a class D felony, maintaining a drug house, paraphernalia and possession of firearms as a convicted felon. Additional charges are also pending. An autopsy has been ordered for the deceased female.

“This is a situation where numerous people were with this young lady, for various amounts of time, when she was having difficulties and rescue personnel were not called for help until it was too late,” Sheriff Jason Sandholdt says.

“If there is ever a doubt on whether rescue personnel should be called, do it right away. We would rather get there and have it be something minor than for someone to wait to call us. Obviously, in this case, it wasn’t something minor and numerous people could have possibly saved her life.”

Thursday morning, the Marion County Sheriff Office, Pella Police Department and Pella Ambulance personnel were dispatched to 993 240th Ave for a report of a possible overdose. Law enforcement officers and rescue personnel unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate a 24 year old female. While on scene, information was gathered that possible illegal narcotics were in the residence, and a search warrant was obtained and executed by members of the Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. As a result, police say they found a marijuana grow operation, various narcotics, drug paraphernalia and multiple firearms.

Those assisting at the scene were Pella Police Department, Pella Ambulance, Mine Task Force, Marion County Attorney’s Office and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.