Man Accused of Aiding Birmingham Woman's Death Set for Jan. 31 Prelim Exam

The Southfield resident arrested earlier this week in connection with the overdose death of a Birmingham woman will appear before Judge Marc Barron during his prelimary exam.

Richard Babbie, 38, appeared on crutches before Judge Diane D'Agostini in 48th District Court Friday morning for a pre-exam conference, where he and his attorney Jerome Sabbota waived the 14-day rule regarding his preliminary exam.

Now, Babbie will return to court on Jan. 31 in front of Barron for his preliminary exam, a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to move forward to trial.

Babbie was arrested by Birmingham police on Dec. 27 in connection with the overdose death of 37-year-old Birmingham resident Tawnya Jarvis in June. He is charged with Delivery of Heroin Causing Death.

According to police reports, officers were called to the Beaumont Hospital emergency room on June 26 after Jarvis was admitted, unresponsive, due to an apparent drug overdose. Jarvis lived on the 2100 block of East Maple Road.

Investigating detectives later discovered that Babbie — who, along with another man, drove Jarvis to the hospital that night — had supplied Jarvis with drugs and helped give her a heroin shot in her apartment earlier that evening.

According to the autopsy report from the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office, Jarvis died from a heroin overdose.

According to Sabbota, Babbie waived the right to have his preliminary exam within 14 days of his arraignment due to evidence discovered in Jarvis' medical reports. Both attorneys will now review the evidence ahead of the hearing.

Sabbota said after the hearing Friday that during his arraignment on Dec. 28, Babbie stood mute, in which case the court entered a plea of not guilty.

Babbie is currently out on $30,000 bond, though D'Agostini noted that he is wearing a GPS tether. He is instructed not to drink alcohol or take drugs, or make contact with Jarvis' family members and the attending physician at Beaumont.

If convicted, Babbie could face life in prison.