MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office reports a couple were arrested after child tested positive for drugs.
A detective spoke with 39-year-olds Preston and Bethany Hensley on Jan. 13 after a referral from the McDowell County Department of Social Services, officials said.
Deputies report an investigation led to the children in the Hensley’s home being tested for narcotics exposure. A search warrant was also executed at their residence in Marion before 17 grams of cocaine were located.
Preston & Bethany Hensley(McDowell County Sheriff’s Office)
The Hensley’s were both charged with exposing a child to a controlled substance, possession of cocaine and maintain a vehicle, dwelling or place for controlled substance.
Bethany was issued a $75,000 secured bond on the first charge and a $20,000 secured bond for the other two. Preston was initially denied bond for the first charge due to being out on pretrial release. He was issued a $25,000 bond for the other charges.
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – A Pamlico County man and woman are in jail under multi-million dollar bonds after their arrest on Wednesday for drug trafficking.
The Neuse River Narcotics Task Force stopped a vehicle on U.S. 70 near the Tuscarora Rhems Road exit.
Inside were Choncey Sawyer, Jenna Barnes, and a three-year-old child, along with fentanyl and cocaine, according to deputies.
Sawyer, 34, of Bayboro, is charged with two felony counts trafficking fentanyl, felony conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for sale of controlled substance, and felony exposing a child to control substances.
The 30-year-old Barnes, of Grantsboro, is charged with two felony counts trafficking fentanyl, felony conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver fentanyl, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, & deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for sale of controlled substance, and felony exposing a child to control substances.
The two were charged under a new law that makes it a felony for anyone to allow someone under 16 to be exposed to drugs.
Sawyer, who was already awaiting trial on other drug charges, was given a $4-million bond, while Barnes is being held on a $2-million bond.
The child was turned over to family members, according to deputies.
A man in McDowell County, North Carolina, has been charged after a 22-year-old’s death was ruled an overdose.
On July 10, 2025, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a cardiac arrest.
When deputies arrived, they found Garrett Shepard dead at a home.
McDowell County Sheriff’s Office
In February 2026, an autopsy reported Shephard had died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his body. There were no signs of trauma or injury.
Investigators determined 46-year-old James Curtis Johnson was responsible for distributing the drugs to Shepard and was charged with felony death by distribution.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences tied to fentanyl and illegal drug distribution,” said Chief Deputy Nathan Mace. “When individuals choose to sell or share these substances, they are putting lives at risk—and in this case, it cost a young man his life.”
Allen Carter of Fayetteville is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a three-year-old. (Hoke County Sheriff’s Office)
RAEFORD, N.C. (WNCN) – A continued investigation has led to a Fayetteville man being charged with murder in the death of a three-year-old child, according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began Dec. 4, 2025, after an unresponsive child was brought to a local hospital and pronounced dead by medical staff, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office began a death investigation, which led to information that warranted bringing in the Criminal Investigation Division to search a home in the 1500 block of Campbell Road the night of Dec. 5, 2025.
The sheriff’s office said the search was a multiagency affair, with K-9, Special Operations and Narcotics/Vice Suppression units assisting in the search. During the search, the sheriff’s office said drugs and guns were recovered from the home.
Allen Carter and Bridget Leach, who had no relation to the child who died, according to the sheriff’s office, were arrested on gun and drug charges as a result of the search of the home. The sheriff’s office said they were both taken into custody “without incident”.
Court documents show Carter is charged with possession of scheduled one controlled substance, obstructing justice, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule six controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule one controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance.
Leach, according to court documents, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule six controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule one controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Monday, deputies say further investigation led the sheriff’s office to charge Carter with second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, exposing a child to a controlled substance, and felony child abuse.
According to his arrest warrant, Carter is to have alleged to “knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life cause or permit a child to be exposed to a controlled substance (Fentanyl)”.
At his first court appearance on Tuesday, Carter was given a $1 million secured bond, according to the sheriff’s office. His next court appearance is listed for March 25.
An analysis of state health data shows that opioid overdose hospitalizations have decreased by more than 20% in the last year, marking two consecutive years of declining emergency department visits in North Carolina.
An analysis of state health data shows that opioid overdose hospitalizations have decreased by more than 20% in the last year, marking two consecutive years of declining emergency department visits in North Carolina.
“I’m excited to see the decreases continue,” says Tyler Yates, State Opioid Coordinator with DHHS’ Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “Not long after the action plan was put into play in 2017, we saw some decreases right away and then COVID happened. Overdose deaths skyrocketed.”
