ROSE HILL, N.C. (WNCT) — A Duplin County man was charged with death by distribution in connection to a fentanyl overdose death in Rose Hill in March of 2024.
Elijah Eddie Robinson, of Wallace, was identified as a suspect after an investigation by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office after deputies responded to a call on South N.C. Highway 50 where a female identified as Jacey Newkirk was found dead in her home.
The death appeared to be the result of an overdose. Investigators found Newkirk had gotten narcotics from Robinson prior to her death. On February 13, 2025, the N.C. State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Newkirk’s death was due to a fentanyl overdose.
Robinson was jailed in the Duplin County Jail under a $250,000 bond.
The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office has announced three arrests in connection with fatal drug overdoses.
The first happened on Jan 30, 2024, when the PCSO responded to a call at 338 Foxwood Trail in Reelsboro regarding an unresponsive female later identified as Jacqueline Mantia, according to officials. Mantia’s cause of death was later determined to be due to a drug-related overdose and investigators identified Richard Evans as the individual responsible for delivering the controlled substance that led to Jacqueline Mantia’s fatal overdose, per officials. Evans was arrested on January 31, 2025, and charged with Death by Distribution of Controlled Substance.
Per a release, “in an unrelated investigation, on December 4, 2023, the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at 215 Shingle Brook Road in the Olympia Community of Pamlico County in reference to an unresponsive male. Upon arrival responding deputies discovered the body of Jason Stultz deceased of an apparent drug overdose.
Following a thorough investigation, it was determined that the cause of death was a drug-related overdose. The Craven County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit assisted with the investigation, and through cooperation among multiple agencies, two individuals were identified as suspects.
Investigators identified Lisa Bass and Steven Smith, both residents of Craven County, as the individuals responsible for selling and delivering the controlled substance that led to the fatal overdose of Jason Stultz. Bass and Smith have been charged with Death by Distribution of Controlled Substance.
Both suspects were arrested by other agencies under the issued warrants and subsequently transferred to the Pamlico County Detention Center.”
Sheriff Chris Davis made the following statement regarding the case:
“It is our goal to continue to arrest those responsible for distributing this poison to our family and friends in Pamlico County. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families that have and continue to be negatively affected by this type of behavior. Another solid investigation by the men and women of the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office.”
The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or information related to the distribution of illegal substances.
The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens in Pamlico County through proactive law enforcement and community partnership.
Richard Evans, 61 from Reelsboro charged with one count of Death By Distribution of Controlled Substance, and Posses Weapon of Mass Destruction. Hughes is being held on a secured bond of $100,000.00 Bond.
Lisa Bass, 53 from Craven County charged with one count of Death By Distribution of Controlled Substance. Bass is being held on a secured bond of $100,000.00 Bond.
Steven Smith, 52 from Craven County charged with one count of Death By Distribution of Controlled Substance. Smith is being held on a secured bond of $150,000.00 Bond.
PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding an unresponsive female on January 30.
The female was later identified as Jacqueline Mantia. After investigation, it was discovered that the cause of death was a drug-related overdose. Investigators identified Richard Evans as the person responsible for delivering the controlled substance that led to Mantia’s death.
Evans was arrested on January 31 and charged with Death by Distribution of Controlled Substance.
PASQUOTANK, N.C. (WAVY) — A man in North Carolina was charged in the death of a woman after she died from fentanyl ingestion.
On July 2, 2024, around 4 p.m., deputies with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and EMS responded to the 700 block of Egan Lane in Elizabeth City. Crews arrived and attempted life-saving measures on an unconscious and unresponsive woman, but were unsuccessful.
29-year-old Jessica Modlin was pronounced dead at the scene. It was determined that fentanyl was the cause of death.
On Jan. 30, 2025, investigators with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Dontae Williams with death by distribution.
Dontae Williams is currently in the custody of Albemarle District Jail under a $1 million secure bond.
MACON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A Macon County man has been charged in an overdose death of another man.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media on Feb. 5 that Tanner Gerber was indicted for the overdose death of Daniel Stanfield and formally charged with death by distribution.
This charge is designed to hold drug dealers accountable for fatal overdoses, the sheriff’s office said in its Facebook post. It said the charge was also part of “ongoing efforts to combat the drug epidemic affecting the community.”
The sheriff’s office said in its post that District Attorney Ashley Welch played a key role in drafting the legislation that established death by distribution as a prosecutable offense.
“This law provides law enforcement with a critical tool to pursue those who distribute deadly narcotics, reinforcing the message that drug-related deaths will not go unanswered,” the sheriff’s office said.
“The tragic death of Daniel Stanfield is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of illegal drugs in our community,” Macon County Sheriff Brent Holbrooks said in the post. “This indictment sends a clear message to those who distribute lethal substances will be held accountable. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our citizens and seek justice for victims and their families.”
Barb Walsh, Executive Director, 919-614-3830 barb@fentvic.org. website: www.fentvic.org Fentanyl Victims Network of NC (fentvic.org), 501(c)(3) EIN 88-3921380
Local Co-Host: Lisa Bennett, Mother of Mason Bennett, Forever 22. Valued member of fentvc.org. Public safety, education & justice advocate. 229-873-5648 lisawbennett@me.com
Purpose
SAVE LIVES! Public Safety Education Prevention Tools + Naloxone Distribution & Training
Listen-Learn-Interview devastated fentanyl victim families. It could happen to anyone!
Spark public safety conversations about the dangers of illicit fentanyl, particularly counterfeit pressed pills (Adderall, Xanax, Percocet), and access to life-saving naloxone in schools and the community
Connect NC Fentanyl Victim Families to one another for support and advocacy.
A Greenville woman has been arrested and charged in Craven County related to the overdose death of a Rocky Run Road man in Dec. 2023.
Amy Sue Gunter, 47, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 9 after an investigation by the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.
In late December 2023 a man was found deceased in his vehicle at a Rocky Run Road residence. The death appeared to be the result of an overdose, and the North Carolina State Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the death was from a fentanyl overdose.
Officials say that an investigation revealed the victim had purchased narcotics from Gunter prior to his death.
Gunter has been charged with the following:
Felony Sell and Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance
Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance
Gunter was being held at the Craven County Detention Center on a $100,000 secured bond as of Jan. 9.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A Wilmington man was arrested Monday in connection with a deadly overdose in Raleigh earlier this month, a warrant shows.
According to the warrant issued by the Raleigh Police Department, 23-year-old Martin Lawrence Mulkins Jr. sold fentanyl and cocaine to Jeffrey Warren on Jan. 5, which led to Warren’s death.
Mulkins is charged with death by distribution/sale, a felony offense, according to the warrant.
Court records show Mulkins received a $5,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Wake County Court on Tuesday.
A man holds a poster showing Wilson County residents who have died as a result of fentanyl. Families shared their stories outside the Wilson County Courthouse in September to bring awareness to the dangers of the drug. Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina will hold a town hall meeting in Wilson on Feb. 1 at the Foundation YMCA of Wilson. Drew C. Wilson | Times file photo
Event organizers are sounding the alarm on the fentanyl crisis that continues to claim lives. The Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina will hold a town hall meeting in Wilson from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, at Foundation YMCA of Wilson at 233 Nash St.
The purpose of the event, organizers say, is to spark public safety conversations about the dangers of illicit fentanyl, particularly when it’s found in counterfeit pressed pills like Adderall, Xanax and Percocet.
Organizers will also be distributing naloxone, which goes by the brand name Narcan, and train those attending on how to administer the lifesaving antidote. Local families will also share their heart-wrenching stories of how their loved ones have died from fentanyl poisonings. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE
Barb Walsh, founder of Fentanyl Victims Network, has been working with Wilson families who are reeling from the loss of their own children who have died as a result of unintentional fentanyl deaths. The hope, she said, is to bring awareness to a problem that is plaguing the country, the state and Wilson.
“This is a public safety problem we want to address,” Walsh said.
Walsh is holding several town halls throughout the state.
“I chose Wilson because there is a pocket of very active families,” Walsh said. “We have two death by distribution cases going on (in the court system).
Local elected officials, public health professionals, advocates, parents of fentanyl victims, first responders and representatives from the Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition and the Wilson County district attorney’s office will be in attendance at the Feb. 1 town hall meeting. Local law enforcement members have also been invited, organizers said.
“I think it’s important for people to see these numbers and realize how many people are dying,” said Lisa Bennett, co-organizer of the event. Bennett lost her son, 22-year-old Mason Bennett, in February 2023. He died after taking what he believed was a Percocet, a prescription painkiller, but it was laced with fentanyl, she has said. Since her son’s death, Bennett has been working with Walsh and her nonprofit.
Walsh said 18,457 people in North Carolina have died as a result of fentanyl over a 10-year period.
From 2013 to October 2023, there have been 138 fentanyl deaths in Wilson County alone, according to state data Walsh has compiled.
SOUNDING THE ALARM
Walsh founded the Raleigh-based nonprofit after her daughter, Sophia Walsh, died from fentanyl poisoning in August 2021. Walsh’s daughter drank what she thought was a bottled water from someone’s refrigerator.
Unbeknownst to her, it contained diluted fentanyl. Sophia died, and no one called 911 until 10 hours later, Walsh said. No one was charged.
“We didn’t know what she died from until five months later,” Walsh said.
After her daughter’s death, Walsh channeled her grief into research, advocacy and justice for other victims. Walsh has worked across the state to bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl and has worked with families to demand justice in their cases by utilizing state law and getting those responsible charged.
‘IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD’
Walsh said there’s a misconception about fentanyl deaths. She said not all deaths are the result of someone in active addiction. Some people are simply experimenting.
Seven out of 10 “street” pressed copycat pills contain lethal fentanyl additives, according to officials.
Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, is a synthetic opioid that can be lethal even in small doses.
“It could happen to your child,” Walsh said. “The pressed pills are the culprit.”
Organizers hope to educate families and encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers that are out there.
“If we can stop just one family from having to go through this it will be worth it,” Bennett said.
Bennett said more lives will be saved if more people are armed with Narcan.
“They cannot save themselves,” Walsh said. “Someone in the community will have to save them.”
For more information about Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina visit www.fentvic.org.
