PASQUOTANK, N.C. (WAVY) โ 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 Sheriffโs 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 Sheriffโs 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.
Published: Sep. 20, 2024 at 11:41 AM EDT|Updated: Sep. 20, 2024 at 3:24 PM EDT
EDENTON, N.C. (WITN) – Two people have been indicted for three overdose deaths that happened in one Eastern Carolina County.
The SBI announced this morning the arrests of Steven Patrick, Jr. and JaโNyryah White, both of Edenton.
The three deaths happened last December, along with several other non-fatal ODs, within 15 days of each other.
The victims were 66-year-old Janice Chilcutt, 61-year-old Ronald Adderly, and 24-year-old April Tapia.
Chilcutt and Adderly died in Edenton, while Tapiaโs death was in the county.
A Chowan County grand jury indicted Patrick on two counts of death by distribution for the Edenton deaths, while White was charged with one count of death by distribution for the Chowan County death.
The SBI was brought in to investigate the deaths at the request of the Edenton Police Department and the Chowan County Sheriffโs Office.
Patrick was given a $500,000 secured bond, and Whiteโs bond was $250,000 secured. Both suspects remain in jail.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) โ According to the CDC, tens of thousands of people die each year from fentanyl. Itโs an issue affecting people across the country, and right here in North Carolina.
Heaven Leigh Nelson, a 24-year-old victim of fentanyl. (Photo courtesy Patricia Drewes)
Officials have been working on solutions for years to get fentanyl out of the state and country.
Just two milligrams of this powerful synthetic opioid is enough to kill the average person, and it does just that, every day.
โShe loved everyone, and everyone loved her,โ said Patricia Drewes of her daughter, Heaven Leigh Nelson. Drewes said in her daughterโs 24 years on this earth, she loved photography, the arts and people.
โShe used to tell me all the time that there was no such thing as strangers. The strangers were friends that we just hadnโt met yet and thatโs the way she lived her life,โ she added.
Drewes said one day, Heaven went to a party.
โSomething happened to her at a partyโsomething tragicโand that set her into a tailspin. So, my daughter did suffer from a substance abuse disorder and that was caused by this tragic event,โ Drewes said.
Her daughter went to a rehabilitation center in Kentucky for help.
โSomeone brought her back home against my wishes. They had sent me a message saying they wanted to bring her back. You know, that she wanted to come home and I refused to bring her home because I wanted her to finish the program,โ Drewes said.
She said Heaven came back home to Vance County, N.C. just before she received the call every parent fears.
โOn a Monday night, January 28, 2019, and my fiancรฉ answered the phone, and I heard him say oh God oh no,โ Drewes said. โI think that my mind knew but my heart didnโt want to accept that it was about my daughter.โ
Heaven passed away and it was not until months later that Drewes said she learned fentanyl took her daughterโs life. At the time, she says, she knew nothing about fentanyl.
โAbsolutely nothing. No one was talking about illicit fentanyl in 2019. I had no clue,โ said Drewes. โIt felt like someone had punched me in my face and a gut punch because to me, illicit fentanyl, is, thatโs a poisoning. Thatโs murder. And thatโs what it felt like when I read the fentanyl. And Iโm like, what is fentanyl?โ
โA larger issue every single dayโ
Just the tiniest bit of fentanyl, two milligrams, is enough to kill the average person.
โItโs not just those that have a substance use disorder dying in this country. Everyoneโs children are dying. We have infants, we have toddlers, we have teenagers, young adults, those with substance use disorder, and those withoutโdying. You know, it affects everyone,โ said Drewes.
According to data from the North Carolina Division of Health and Human Services, in 2012, 140 people died from fentanyl state-wide. In 2021, the number skyrocketed to 3,117. The most-recent finalized data available comes from 2021, according to the department.
In Wake County in 2012, there was a more than 8,700% increase in deaths from fentanyl during that same time period.
In Durham County, there was an 8,900% increase in deaths from fentanyl from 2012 to 2021.
โWell, unfortunately, Mary, itโs becoming a larger issue every single day. And thatโs not an over-exaggeration. For example, last year, my deputies seized approximately 3.7, little less than four grams of fentanyl. And earlier this year, we have seized over 300 grams of fentanyl,โ said Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead.
At the sheriffโs office, evidence technicians handle suspected fentanyl in plastic bags. The โcontrolled contrabandโ was seized by the sheriffโs office. In the room with the evidence is Narcan, just in case.
โWeโve seized in pills. Weโve seized pill presses along with it. Itโs been laced. Marijuana is being laced with fentanyl. So, weโre seeing it in unimaginable places,โ said Sheriff Birkhead. โThis is an industry that is making money. Fentanyl is far cheaper than any other drug to manufacture or to make these days. We know that this is not just a North Carolina or East Coast problem. The precursors for fentanyl come from China. The drugs are coming up from the southern border. Theyโre coming across from the northern border, and theyโre just infiltrating cities all across the country. And unfortunately, it has made its way to Durham.โ
Provisional data from the CDC states in 2023, there were an estimated 74,702 deaths from synthetic opioids, which it says is primarily fentanyl. Thatโs down slightly from 76,226 in 2022. Provisional data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from June 2024 shows โfentanyl positiveโ deaths also trending downward. These are deaths where fentanyl was detected but the personโs official cause of death has not been ruled/determined.
Turning tragedy into advocacy
While there are reported decreases in deaths, Drewes tells us, there is so much work to do. After her daughterโs death, she founded โForgotten Victims of North Carolina,โ is one of two state representatives for the North Carolina chapter of Drug-Induced Homicide Foundation, and is the Vice President of โLost Voices of Fentanyl.โ
โWe are the largest fentanyl advocacy group in the country. We host a national event every year at the national monument, and we march to the white house,โ said Drewes.
Sometimes attending these advocacy events by her side is her daughterโs son. โShe was my only child so he will be my only grandchild and thatโs what I call him. Heโs my gift from God and Heaven.โ
(Photo courtesy Patricia Drewes)
Drewes told CBS 17 she wants more people held accountable in these cases. In North Carolina, there is a criminal charge called death by distribution. However, she says no one has been charged in connection to her daughterโs death.
How to access naloxone, other resources in NC
In North Carolina, there is a statewide standing order for naloxone, commonly known by the brand name, โNarcan.โ It authorizes pharmacists to dispense naloxone to any person meeting the criteria.
Under this order, it is available without a prescription at most retail pharmacies in the state. It is also covered under most insurance policies. It is also available at local health departments and many syringe service programs.
According to preliminary SSP data from DHHS, more than 114,000 naloxone overdose rescue kits were distributed last year. For more information about naloxone and other statewide resources, visit the NCDHHS website or https://naloxonesaves.org/.
Medical examiner Dr. Steven Campman told 60 Minutes that more than two doses of naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, might be necessary to save the life of someone who has overdosed on fentanyl. “60 Minutes” is the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regularly making Nielsen’s Top 10.
See the original video clip and read the article on the 60 Minutes website.
Fentanyl, which is often hidden in counterfeit pills, is fueling the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. Last year the synthetic opioid killed more than 70,000 Americans.
August 21st marks National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Dayโข, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the memory of those who have fallen victim to illicit fentanyl poisoning. It serves as a poignant reminder of the profound devastation inflicted upon countless families and friends affected by this perilous drug. This day stands as a unified effort among fentanyl awareness organizations, impacted families, and individuals sharing their lived experiences to collectively warn and inform our youth, the public, and the unsuspecting.
This nationwide initiative urges all Americans to unite in the cause. Federal, state, and local agencies are called to participate actively, contributing to the vital mission of saving lives through heightened prevention and awareness efforts. Hosting community events dedicated to National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day and disseminating resources on fentanyl and other hazardous substances can prove instrumental in safeguarding lives.
The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. Fentanyl represents the gravest drug threat our nation has ever faced, propagated by transnational criminals. Alarmingly, an American succumbs to a drug-related death every five minutes, with children under 14 bearing a disproportionate burden of fatalities from fentanyl poisoning. Exploiting social media platforms, distributors are making access to dangerous drugs alarmingly easy for our youth. Thus, comprehensive prevention education is imperative to stem the tide of this crisis.
It is incumbent upon us all to be well-informed about the perils of illicit fentanyl. By collectively spreading awareness about its dangers, we can shield families from the anguish of fentanyl-related tragedies. Let us join forces to educate, advocate, and protect our communities, fostering a culture of health, productivity, and drug-free living.
The National Crime Prevention Council put out this video and announcement on National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The video is part of the NCPC “Go For Real Campaign”.
Today, on National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, the nation unites to honor the memory of loved ones poisoned to death by this drug. This day also serves as an opportunity to elevate this issue. Letโs push for action to stop another family from losing a loved one to this crisis.
The National Crime Prevention Council is resolved to keep fighting fentanyl. Public awareness is always the first step. Thatโs why McGruff will continue to educate with the PSA you see here.
Despite the progress made in advocating for public policy changes, holding social media companies accountable, and reducing the supply and demand of illicit drug distribution channelsโwe have to do more.
This crisis remains a persistent threat, and our commitment to addressing it must be equally steadfast. This shouldnโt be a focus for just today, but every day.
Experimenting with pills has never been deadlier because the drug supply has never been deadlier. James Fishback, founder of NEO: The New Drug Talk, explains what you need to know.
In the ugly history of illicit drugs, no drug is more deadly than fentanyl.
Not cocaine.
Not meth.
Not heroin.
Every day, fentanyl kills over 200 Americans; rich, poor, black, white, old, young. Especially young.
Fentanyl is a cheap synthetic opioid that is incredibly dangerous for two reasons:
Itโs FIFTY TIMES stronger than heroin. Just a sugar packetโs worth of fentanyl would kill over 500 people.
Fentanyl is used to create counterfeit versions of popular prescription drugs. These fake pills look identical to the real onesโXanax, Adderall, Oxycontin, Percocet, and others. You canโt see, smell, or taste the difference. Even agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA, canโt tell the difference between the real pill and the counterfeit one.
Fentanyl isnโt just deadly poison. Itโs deadly poison in disguise, and most kids who die from it had no idea they were even taking it.