Breaking News Archives - Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina

Justin Whitmer Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with a death by distribution case that occurred in June of 2024, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Hodges Rd. in Chocowinity, in reference to a female who was unresponsive on June 23, 2024. The victim was identified as Jacquelin Halley Hodges, and deputies started giving aid until EMS arrived on the scene. Jacquelin passed away after arriving at ECU Beaufort Hospital, BCSO says.

A preliminary investigation was conducted that evening by deputies, and a thorough follow-up investigation was conducted by Detectives. BCSO Detectives presented the case to the Beaufort County Grand Jury, following the conclusion of the investigation, and indictments were issued to four individuals in April of 2025 in relation to Hodge’s death.

Justin Whitmer, 39, of Newport News, VA, was arrested on Dec. 16, Newport, and was transferred to the Beaufort County Detention Center on Dec. 22, 2025, and received no bond. Whitmer was the fourth arrest as a result of a 2024 Death by Distribution case.

He faces the following charges:

Felony Death by Distribution
Second Degree Murder (felony)

*Brandy Kinion Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office*

Brandy Kinion, 42, of Chocowinity, was arrested on April 21 and was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center, where she received a $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:

Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)
Accessory after the Fact (felony)

Eric Wiggins Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office

Eric Wiggins, 42, of Chocowinity, was confined on unrelated charges and was served in the Beaufort County Detention Center on April 21. Wiggins received an additonal $250,000 secured bond for the following charges:

Involuntary Manslaughter (felony)

*Layla Hoffman Photo_ Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office*

Layla Hoffman, 32, of Chocowinity, was arrested at the LAX International Airport in California on May 13, after deputies coordinated with federal law enforcement to arrest her when she returned to the United States, BCSO says. Deputies flew took custody of Hoffman on June 11. Deputies transported Hoffman back to Beaufort County, where she was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $1,000,000 bond for the following charges:

Felony Death by Distribution
Second Degree Murder (felony)

2 facing charges in drug-related death after year-long investigation in N.C.

Read the original article and watch the video on the WMBFNews website.

SCOTLAND COUNTY, NC (WMBF) – Two women are facing charges in North Carolina after a year-long investigation into a fentanyl-related death.

Deputies with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office arrested Laura Cox, 30, of Rockingham, North Carolina, and Allison Davis, 27, of Cheraw, South Carolina, in connection with a death in May of last year.

Laura Cox (left), Allison Davis (right)(Scotland County Sheriff’s Office)

Cox and Davis are facing death by distribution and felony conspiracy charges. Both have been given bond: Cox was given a $1,500,000 secured bond, and Davis was given a $1,000,000 secured bond.

Narcotic investigator Lt. E. Haywood was notified in May of 2024 of a death involving the potential illegal distribution of Fentanyl, determining the person died from the illegal drug, the sheriff’s office said.

During the investigation, deputies gathered information from the county’s emergency services, the Scotland Memorial Hospital, and the Office of the Medical Examiners.

After the investigation and in-depth interviews were conducted, warrants were obtained, and the two were arrested on Dec. 1, 2025, according to the sheriff’s office.

Throughout the investigation, several law enforcement agencies assisted the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, including Narcotic Investigator Sergeant S. Sullivan, the Rockingham Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, along with the Chesterfield County/Cheraw South Carolina Law Enforcement Agencies.

Man facing deadly distribution charges after fatal fentanyl overdose in Davidson County, deputies said

Read the original article and watch the video on the WXII12 website.

In July, detectives with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said they started a narcotics death investigation after someone was found dead inside a home.

Detectives said the death appeared to be the result of a drug overdose.

During the investigation, officials identified Christopher Brandon Yokeley, 45, of Lexington, as the person who gave the drugs to the victim.

The autopsy and toxicology report determined that the official cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.

On Dec. 15, a grand jury indicted Yokeley on a charge of death by distribution. On Dec. 23, deputies said Yokely was served the indictment while incarcerated in the Davidson County Detention Center for unrelated drug charges.

Yokelely is still in custody, and his bond has been set at $50,000.

Davidson County man indicted for death by distribution, deputies say

Read the original article on the WFMYNews2 website.

A man in Davidson County faces indictment for allegedly distributing fentanyl leading to a fatal overdose.

LEXINGTON, N.C. — The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has indicted a man accused of death by distribution on Dec. 15.

A person was found dead inside a home after what investigators said was a drug overdose. After an autopsy and toxicology test, fentanyl toxicity was determined as the cause of death, deputies said.

Christopher Brandon Yokeley, 45, was accused of distributing the narcotics to the victim. Yokeley was indicted while incarcerated, deputies said.

He is being held under a $50,000.

Raleigh mom spreads awareness of drug overdose risk by gifting skateboards to Triangle kids

Read the original article and watch the video on the WRAL News website.

A Raleigh mom is raising awareness about drug overdose risks by gifting skateboards to children across the Triangle area. Her mission not only remembers her son but also educates families on the dangers of substance abuse.

Susan Plattner’s son, Caleb Mehlman, spent most of his free time at Marsh Creek Skatepark in Raleigh. She said skateboarding was second nature for her son.

“At the age of three, I had a scooter, and he figured out how to push the handle down and turn it into a skateboard, and that was it,” Plattner said. “He was skating passionately ever since then.”

Carteret County mothers share stories of loss during the holidays

Read the original story on the WCTI News12 website.

For some families during the holidays there is an empty seat at the table — a hole that can never be filled because of addiction.

In Carteret County, two mothers are living with that loss every day after losing their sons to fentanyl overdoses.

Chandler Stewart struggled with substance use since the end of high school, in and out of rehab as he tried to recover. But one relapse changed everything.

“He had not passed away at that point he was in the hospital and we were just praying that we didn’t have to make the decision to take him off of life support so he did go on his own several hours later and I knew it had to be fentanyl.” his mother Lynn Stewart says.

Chandler died on January 1, 2022. Nearly four years later, his mother still holds tightly to his memory — and encourages other families grieving similar losses to do the same.

“We need to love our children who have past by talking about them don’t isolate yourself don’t go in a room remember all the good times they had with their loved ones.”

Christmas was Chandler’s favorite holiday. A family photo taken that day became their last picture together. Now, each family member keeps that moment close, turning the image into ornaments that hang on the tree each year.

“When I look at the picture I just see everyone arguing and everything but that was the last picture that we have of chandler with the group,” says Stewart.

Just months later, another Carteret County family faced the same devastating reality.

On November 5, 2022, Tyler Dees lost his life to fentanyl after struggling with addiction for six years.

Annie Brown the mother of Tyler says, “It’s not just an empty chair at the table for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s every holiday, every birthday. It’s an empty space that will never be filled again.”

Tyler had just turned 26. While many families celebrate milestones and memories, his mother says grief follows her into every moment of life.

“I feel guilty sometimes for doing things because he’s not here to do them with me. I feel like I’m not supposed to smile or laugh or have fun during certain events because he’s not here anymore. It just hits me that we have to go the rest of our lives without him.”

But Tyler loved fishing — and his mother found a way to turn that passion into purpose. She created an annual event called Fishing With Addiction, raising more than $51,000 in his memory. The funds were donated to two local recovery homes, helping others on their journey toward healing.