The NC OCME has issued their reports for July 2025. Visit the OCME Reports page to see updated reports.
OCME Reports Updated
Category: Breaking News
UPDATE: Guilty Plea in 2023 Double Overdose Case
From the Statesville Police Department:
Google to block promotion of pill presses on ads and shopping platforms
Read the article on the Partnership for Safe Medicines website.
On July 1, Google announced that it was updating its dangerous products and services policy to restrict the promotion of pill presses, encapsulating machines and components they use, such as dies, molds and stamps used to create or imprint pills. The change will affect the Google Ads and Google Shopping platforms starting in September 2025, with six weeks until full implementation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that states and tribes proposing importation programs can use “a static baseline approach for the cost-savings analysis” instead of trying to account for changes in unpredictable markets.
Google (finally) updates their Dangerous Products or Services policy
Read the updated policy on the Google website.
NC Senate Updates SB429 Public Safety Act
SB429 was updated on July 10, 2025.
See SB429 and more relevant NC laws on the North Carolina State Laws resource page.
ENC law enforcement trains in Morehead City on death by distribution cases
Read the original article and watch the video on the WCTI News 12 website.
Law enforcement officials from across eastern North Carolina gathered in Morehead City to enhance their understanding of death by distribution cases. Carteret County officials emphasized the importance of this training.
Officers, detectives, and deputies from Carteret and Craven counties convened at the Morehead City Police Department to stay informed on trends and strategies for handling these cases. Sheriff Asa Buck highlighted the local efforts to strengthen their approach since the introduction of the new law in 2019.
“For the past couple of years one of my detectives, Corey Bishop, and Assistant District Attorney David Spence have been putting on this training session — not just here in our county, but across the state in various trainings, homicide investigator events, and other conferences as well,” said Sheriff Buck.
Since 2020, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office has charged 30 individuals under the death by distribution law, leading the state in such prosecutions. Sheriff Buck and Assistant District Attorney David Spence were present to lead the training and discuss the significance of these cases.
MCPD Charges Man Following Overdose Death Investigation
Read the original article on the Morehead City website.
News Release
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Bryan Gabriel Mace, of Newport, was charged by the Morehead City Police Department on Thursday, April 3, 2025, with the following offenses: Death by Distribution (Unlawful delivery), Possession with the Intent to Sell and Deliver a Scheduled II controlled substance, and Delivery of a Scheduled II controlled substance.
This followed an extensive investigation by the Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit, which was launched after the tragic overdose death of Kaitlyn Curry, a Morehead City resident, in July of 2024. Mace, who was already in custody for related drug charges and probation violations, was subsequently held in the Carteret County Detention Center after his first appearance, where he was given a $750,000 secured bond.
Man arrested after 39-year-old dies from overdose in Union County, police say
Read the original article and watch the video on the WBTV3 website.
MONROE, N.C. (WBTV) – A man was arrested after a 39-year-old died from an overdose in Union County in March, according to police.
Records showed 52-year-old Fredrick Bivens was charged with death by distribution on Saturday, June 28, and given a $1 million bond.
What happened
On March 4, police said they responded to calls for an unresponsive person at a home along Broome Street in Monroe.
Upon arrival, officers said they found Jerry Deese suffering from a medical emergency, and “despite rapid intervention and lifesaving efforts,” he was pronounced dead.
His death was later determined to be the result of a drug overdose, according to police.
Investigation leads to Bivens’ arrest
After an “extensive investigation,” officers said they identified Bivens as being responsible for supplying the drugs that led to Deese’s death.
Authorities advised that shortly after identifying Bivens as a suspect, he was apprehended and placed in the Union County Detention Center.
“Let this case serve as a clear message: if you distribute deadly drugs in our community, you will be held accountable,” said Chief Rhett Bolen. “My department remains fully committed to aggressively pursuing those who profit from narcotics and ensuring they face the consequences of their actions.”