Category: Fentanyl
Richlands man charged in deadly fentanyl case in Onslow County
A Richlands man is facing serious charges after deputies say he sold fentanyl that led to a deadly overdose.
According to arrest warrants issued by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, 26-year-old Anthony Joseph Dupcza was arrested Wednesday, April 29. He is charged with felony death by distribution, possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, as well as selling and delivering a Schedule II controlled substance.
Arrest warrants state the charges stem from an incident on March 31, 2025. Investigators allege Dupcza sold fentanyl to Taiye Reid, and that the ingestion of the drug resulted in Reid’s death.
Deputies also say Dupcza possessed fentanyl with the intent to sell or distribute it.
Dupcza is being held without bond at the Onslow County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, April 30.
Advocates in NC say crisis isn’t over as new data shows sharp drop in fentanyl, overdose deaths
Read the original article on watch the video on the ABC11 News website.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Fentanyl Awareness Day is being observed Wednesday with new data showing a decline in fentanyl-related deaths — and overall overdose deaths — across North Carolina.
An update from the NCDHHS shows overall overdose deaths in the state fell by 34% between 2023 and 2024, the first decline since 2019. Fentanyl-related deaths peaked at just over 3,300 in 2022 and have declined to fewer than 1,500 last year, according to state data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Advocates say the progress is a good sign — but they’re clear the fentanyl crisis is far from over.
“We now have over 20,000 fentanyl victims in North Carolina, and the families, the victims families have said enough,” Barb Walsh of Cary said.
Walsh lost her daughter, Sophia, to fentanyl in August 2021. Since then, she’s worked with lawmakers to push for changes and founded the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina to help families navigating similar losses.
“So the deaths are still occurring and it may be less, but those families will not take any comfort in knowing that their loved one was not saved,” Walsh said.
That decline in fentanyl-related deaths is part of a broader drop in overdose deaths across the state. According to NCDHHS, overdose deaths involving all drugs fell from more than 4,400 in 2023 to fewer than 3,000 in 2024.
Walsh credited the progress in part to expanded access to naloxone, a drug used to reverse overdoses, and increased public awareness.
“They’re saying the word fentanyl out loud. They’re talking about the life naloxone. They’re elevating the public discussion about naloxone and fentanyl victims. Deaths More importantly, it is treating the victims and their families with dignity and respect,” she said.
Despite the improvement, Walsh said continued efforts are critical.
“It is not time yet to stop talking about trying to save lives together. The work the government is doing, the opioid settlement funds, law enforcement, district attorney’s harm reduction groups, public health, the families who have started nonprofits, all of you, all of us are needed in order to save lives,” she said.
State officials say counties showing the most progress are those using funds from a $1.4 billion opioid settlement, which requires adherence to specific guidelines and reporting standards to access the money.
While the latest data shows a significant decline, advocates say continued coordination across agencies and communities will be key to sustaining the progress.
Why 72,000 Deaths a Year Is Not a Success Story
Listen to the podcast or watch the video on the Grieving Out Loud website.
With the number of drug overdose deaths dropping, some are celebrating. But is there a risk in declaring victory too early and cutting funding for prevention? Today’s guest on Grieving Out Loud, an addiction researcher at Stanford, says not so fast. About 72,000 overdose deaths a year still exceeds the total number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Dr. Wayne Kepner says not only are far too many people still dying, but celebrating too early could cost more lives. He recently wrote an article titled, “America must not learn to live with 72,000 overdose deaths a year.”
In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Dr. Kepner shares what history has taught us about past drug epidemics, and how those lessons can guide the path forward while preventing as many deaths as possible.
Hampstead man accused of providing fentanyl that killed 18-year-old woman
HAMPSTEAD, N.C. (WECT) – A Hampstead man was arrested in March following the death of an 18-year-old woman from a suspected fentanyl overdose, according to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Daniel Blaine Joye was arrested for death by distribution on March 12 after he allegedly delivered fentanyl that resulted in a fatal overdose.
According to PCSO and available search warrants, deputies and EMS personnel responded to a residence on Mullein Drive in Hampstead on Feb. 27 after receiving a 911 call about an unconscious woman. The victim was identified as Shelby Slye of Hampstead.
A witness told dispatch she saw a man dragging a woman toward a car. The witness, a nursing student, began CPR on Slye.
Warrants state Joye told deputies he found Slye unresponsive but breathing and tried to get her into a car to take her to the hospital. He said he noticed blue discoloration around her lips and shallow breathing. Slye was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, where she was pronounced dead on Feb. 28.
Warrants also state Joye allegedly told deputies at the scene that Slye had a history of narcotics abuse and had consumed a fifth of liquor during the day. However, hospital employees later told detectives Slye’s toxicology report showed no signs of alcohol use, according to records.
Detectives served a search warrant at the Mullein Drive residence on March 1. During the search, Joye was found in possession of fentanyl and was arrested. The fentanyl was packaged in wax paper bindles stamped “We The Best.”
A second search warrant led to the seizure of additional fentanyl packaged in the same bindles, empty bindles with the same stamp, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cell phones belonging to Joye and Slye, according to records.
The warrant states a woman at the residence told detectives Joye routinely purchases fentanyl and other narcotics and provided fentanyl to Slye on a regular basis. Records state the woman said she believed Joye was Slye’s source of illegal narcotics.
Detectives attended Slye’s autopsy on March 3 at Onslow Memorial Hospital. The search warrant states presumptive fentanyl urine test showed a positive indication of fentanyl in Slye’s urine.
On March 12, detectives secured additional charges against Joye related to the overdose death. Joye faces the following charges:
- Felony death by distribution
- Possess with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule II (three counts)
- Deliver Schedule II controlled substance
- Possession of Schedule II
- Maintain vehicle, dwelling, place, controlled substance
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts)
Joye appeared in court on March 13. He was appointed a public defender and his bond was set at $125,000.
Pender County Sheriff’s Office arrested Daniel Blaine Joye for death by distribution
2 arrested in Lee County after drugs, gun found during traffic stop with kids inside car
Read the original article on the WRAL News website.
Deputies arrested Zachary Robert Shaw, 41, and Lakayla Chasity Davis, 28, during a traffic stop on Tuesday. Their arrest comes as deputies said narcotics agents were investigating citizen drug complaints on Deep River Road during the time of the traffic stop.
Two people were arrested in Lee County after deputies found drugs and a gun inside a car with three children in it during a traffic stop on Tuesday on Hawkins Avenue.
Deputies said narcotics agents were investigating citizen drug complaints on Deep River Road during the time of the traffic stop.
uring the stop, deputies said they found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a gun in possession of a felon. Three children were also inside the car during the stop, deputies said.
Deputies arrested the two occupants in the car, Zachary Robert Shaw, 41, and Lakayla Chasity Davis, 28.
Shaw is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and is being held without bond.
Davis is charged with felony possession of a schedule II-controlled substance, three counts of exposing a child to a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana up to half an ounce. She is being held on a $31,000 secured bond.
Deputies said both Shaw and Davis also had outstanding warrants for arrest out of Chatham County for larceny.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office NC Press Release
Additional Charges on Overdose Investigation
North Carolina’s backlogged autopsies delaying justice, prosecutors say
Read the original article and watch the video on the WRAL News website.
Despite funding increases and legislative support, North Carolina’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner remains backlogged due to a national shortage of pathologists and a surge in subpoenas requiring experts to testify in person.
Getting an autopsy report in North Carolina after someone dies can take months. Despite recent funding for the medical examiner’s office, prosecutors say the backlog of autopsies is slowing down justice.
Simply put, the state’s medical examiner’s office is overloaded. A huge influx in funding helped. But what’s straining the system isn’t the caseload now, it’s the courts.
Dorleen Richardson is waiting for an autopsy on her husband, Antony, who was killed by Johnston County deputies on Jan. 25 following a mental health crisis. Her garage is still riddled with bullet holes, reminding her of the day he died.
“His feet were there, and his body was there,” Richardson said pointing to the floor of her garage.
Continue reading “North Carolina’s backlogged autopsies delaying justice, prosecutors say”