Woman burned in alleged methamphetamine operation

WASILLA -- A Wasilla woman who police say was involved in methamphetamine production remained in serious condition Wednesday in a Seattle hospital with burn injuries.

Marlena Adams, 22, received third-degree burns Sunday when flames shot out from a stove in which Sudafed was being cooked to separate ephedrine, used in methamphetamine production, said investigator Dwayne Shelton of the Mat-Su Drug Unit.

"It looked like a precursor lab," he said. "To speed up the process, they were cooking it."

Shelton said it first appeared that Adams suffered burns over 80 percent of her body. Later reports showed it to be 40 percent, he said.

Adams was taken by ambulance to Valley Hospital before being flown to Seattle and admitted at Harborview Medical Center.

Wasilla police joined the drug unit in responding to 974 Nugget Ave. to investigate an apartment fire at 5:45 p.m. Friday. Adams' boyfriend, Anthony Terapelli, was in the home when officers arrived and said the fire began in the kitchen, according to a police report.

Shelton said another man apparently had been in the house when the fire broke out. However, he left before police arrived.

"We would definitely be interested in talking with him," Shelton said.

He added that no arrests have been made, although an investigation is continuing. Shelton said meth production isn't uncommon in the Valley.

"There's a lot of it around," he said.