BEAUFORT, N.C. (WNCT) — Amanda Alice Blanton, 36, of Newport, pled guilty to 2nd degree murder in the death of Daniel Andrew Brisson, 46, also of Newport, and has been sentenced to 238-298 months in the Department of Adult Correction during the most recent term of Carteret County Criminal Superior Court.
The case was investigated by the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, and the lead investigator was Courtney Howell. Assistant District Attorney David L. Spence prosecuted the case and Resident Superior Court Judge Clint Rowe presided over the matter.
BEAUFORT – District Attorney Matt Wareham and Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck announced that Amanda Alice Blanton, age 36 of Newport, pled guilty to Second-Degree murder in the death of Daniel Andrew Brisson, age 46 of Newport, and was sentenced to 238-298 months in the Department of Adult Correction during the most recent term of Carteret County Criminal Superior Court.
The case was investigated by the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office and the lead investigator was Courtney Howell. Assistant District Attorney David L. Spence prosecuted the case and Resident Superior Court Judge Clint Rowe presided over the matter. Pending the disposition of co-defendant cases in this matter a more detailed release will be issued.
The body of Daniel Andrew Brisson was found on Harris Street on March 20, 2022. Following an investigation, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office deputies have charged two more people with murder in connection with his death.
The two individuals are Joshua Kenneth Clauson, 20, and Jason Allen Porter, 42, of Newport. Police accuse the three individuals—Clauson, Porter, and a third person—of working together to intentionally inject Brisson with methamphetamine and fentanyl, and then dumping his body on Harris Street. Clauson is being held without bond at the Carteret County Jail. Porter was charged with murder but is already serving an active prison sentence for violating probation.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office reports arresting a man in connection with an overdose death in March.
Chad Ledbetter(Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies said they responded to Ozzie Drive in Bostic regarding a death investigation on Mar. 29. Investigators received an autopsy report on Sept. 29, where a fentanyl overdose was determined to be the cause of death.
Chad Ledbetter was arrested by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Spindale Police Department, and Road Patrol deputies on Friday on warrants for death by distribution and sell or deliver a controlled substance, according to deputies.
Ledbetter was given a $250,000 secured bond after his arrest.
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with FOX Carolina. For more free content like this, download our apps.
HOKE COUNTY — A man was arrested in Hoke County after he was wanted in a death by distribution case in Robeson County.
DeAngelo Gerald Cobb
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office announced that on Tuesday members of the Narcotic/Vice Suppression Unit (NVSU), Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Team served an arrest warrant on DeAngelo Gerald Cobb at his residence in the 1800 block of Balfour Road, just north of the Robeson County line outside of Red Springs.
Cobb was wanted out of Robeson County for an arrest warrant in reference to a death by distribution case.
While doing a safety sweep of the home, law enforcement observed marijuana, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, and firearms in plain view. The residence was seized and detectives with the NVSU obtained a narcotic search warrant.
Devin Shytel Southerland-Clark
While serving the search warrant, approximately 4 1/2 pounds of marijuana were found in various rooms throughout the house. Detectives also located four firearms, THC resin, bulk US currency, suspected methamphetamine, packaging materials, and other items of marijuana paraphernalia.
Cobb was transported by Robeson County detectives for the service of their arrest warrant prior to the search being completed.
Detectives with the NVSU swore out additional warrants for Cobb for four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of a Schedule-I controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for the sell/delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Wednesday, the arrest warrants from Hoke County Sheriff’s Office for DeAngelo Cobb were served in Robeson County. Cobb was given a $100,000.00 secured bond for the Hoke County charges and remained in the Robeson County Jail.
After the search, Virginia Carol Clark, Devin Shytel Southerland-Clark, Jacoby Anthony, Ryan McKoy, and Miah Sade Mitchell were placed under arrest by Hoke County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Hoke County Detention Center.
Clark, Southerland-Clark, McKoy, and Mitchell were all charged at the Hoke County Detention Center with possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of a schedule I controlled substance, maintain a vehicle/dwelling for the sell/delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Each received a $20,000 secured bond and a first appearance court date.
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is still ongoing.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — After receiving autopsy results from a death that reportedly happened in March and after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office detectives have charged a man with death by distribution.
According to a news release, Chad Ledbetter was identified as a suspect after a person was found deceased on March 29 at a residence on Ozzie Drive in Bostic. The autopsy report, which was received by investigators on Sept. 29, determined the cause of death to be fentanyl overdose.
After conducting interviews, reviewing evidence, and consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, investigators obtained warrants on Oct. 3 for death by distribution and sell or deliver a controlled substance, the release said.
On that same day, detectives with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Spindale Police Department and Road Patrol Deputies arrested Ledbetter on Hamilton Street in Spindale.
A woman was arrested Monday and charged with the fatal overdose of a man earlier this year.
A woman was arrested Monday and charged with the fatal overdose of a man earlier this year.
On March 29, the Wake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a death investigation at a home off Panther Lake Road. They found 39-year-old Matthew Godbold unresponsive inside the home.
Their initial investigation indicated that the cause of death was a possible overdose.
Officials collected and sent evidence to the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services for testing, which determined that substances found at the scene tested positive for fentanyl.
Deputies determined that 37-year-old Lauren Olsen sold drugs to Godbold that ultimately led to his death. The WCSO did not provide details as to how they connected Olsen to him.
On Monday evening, deputies arrested Olsen and charged her with aggravated death by distribution and felony sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. She is scheduled to appear in court for the first time for this offense Tuesday afternoon.
According to court records, Olsen has a previous arrest history related to possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia from other counties.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. When manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and approved by the FDA, it can be safely used to treat patients in severe pain. The synthetic fentanyl leading to many overdose deaths is made in unregulated labs, pushed by drug cartels, and put in various drugs as a cheap way to produce extremely strong substances.
The fentanyl crisis continues to devastate families across North Carolina, even as overdose deaths decline. Back in late May, Gov. Josh Stein called for a special unit to investigate fentanyl trafficking across the state.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Wake County prosecutors allege a Garner woman sold a fatal dose of purple fentanyl — which began appearing on local streets earlier this year — in March, according to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors said 39-year-old Matthew Godbold’s father called 911 on March 29 after finding his son unresponsive at home.
“They found the victim, Matthew Godbold, deceased in the living room. He was kneeling on the floor. His upper body was slumped over the couch. He had blue lips and was cold to the touch. Additionally, there was drug paraphernalia nearby the deceased,” Wake County prosecutors said Tuesday during a court hearing.
Investigators determined Godbold died from overdosing on purple fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Just two milligrams, the size of a few grains of salt, can be fatal.
Drug dealers dye fentanyl purple and other colors as a way to distinguish themselves, according to Raleigh police and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. It’s often laced with other drugs, like tranquilizers, making it even more lethal.
“It’s just a coloring agent that’s added to regular fentanyl for marketing purposes, for drug dealers to make their product look better. However, the most common thing that we’re seeing are the small blue fentanyl pills,” said Lt. David Bradford with Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors believe Godbold’s fatal dose came from Lauren Olsen, who has a long history of drug charges. She appeared in court Tuesday to face charges of aggravated death by distribution and selling a Schedule II controlled substance.
“The death by distribution charge here is an aggravated charge that is due to the defendant’s previous conviction for attempted trafficking of opioids,” prosecutors said.
Court records show Olsen was convicted of that attempted trafficking charge in 2017. Prosecutors also said Olsen has a history of failing to appear for court dates.
A Spring Lake man is accused of providing a drug that killed a woman who recently moved to Harnett County from Arizona.
A Harnett County Grand Jury indicted 34-year-old Issac Anthony Ortiz, of 415 Wapiti Drive, on a charge of death by distribution for allegedly selling Michale Ryan the fentanyl that killed her between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10.
Ryan, 32, had recently moved to the area, according to Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Spencer Elmore. The woman was found dead in her home earlier this month. Investigators believe her death was caused by an overdose of the deadly opioid.
“The investigation revealed, prior to Michale’s death, Issac Ortiz provided or sold illegal narcotics to Ryan, causing her to become deceased,” said Elmore. “This is still an ongoing investigation.”
The indictment was returned on Sept. 15. Ortiz was arrested on Tuesday.
He is being held under a $500,000 secured bond. In his first court appearance, Wednesday, Judge Brian E. Lewis appointed attorney Jesse W. Jones to represent Ortiz in court proceedings. His next court date was set for Nov. 10.
In an affidavit of indigency submitted to the court on Tuesday, Ortiz claimed he is self-employed as a landscaper. His spouse, Zorina Chase is self-employed in retail clothing, he noted in the court record. Ortiz listed his monthly income at $3,000 and claims five dependents. He reports his monthly expenses as $2,200.
Ortiz pleaded guilty to a previous charge of misdemeanor larceny in another case last year. He was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and court costs of $203.
