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.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Fentanyl-related deaths in Buncombe County have declined from a recent peak, but law enforcement officials say the drug continues to move into the community through established trafficking routes and remains a serious threat.
Data from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shows Buncombe County recorded 66 fentanyl-positive deaths in 2025, down from 82 in 2024 and significantly lower than the peak of 144 deaths in 2022.
Emergency department data shows a similar trend. Buncombe County recorded 336 overdose-related emergency room visits in 2024, compared to 521 in 2023, according to state health data.
Still, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chris Stockton said the presence of fentanyl remains widespread.
“It’s funneling in across Buncombe County. There’s not just one singular common spot. It can be anywhere,” Stockton said.
Stockton said what investigators see locally is tied to a broader supply chain driven by demand within the community.
MARCH 31, 2026 – Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Chris Stockton said the presence of fentanyl remains widespread. (Photo: WLOS Staff)
“You have local folks within the community that know of demand and they just source out to find folks who are eventually linked into much larger organizations,” Stockton said.
Those larger networks often begin outside western North Carolina.
“Most prevalent ones we’re seeing right now are starting at a port in either Charleston or Wilmington,” Stockton said. “They’ll make their way from there to Charlotte, Knoxville, and Atlanta, and from there into our community.”
Investigations into fentanyl cases can begin in several ways, including overdose calls, tips, or information from other agencies.
“All of the above,” Stockton said. “They can start with an overdose, a community complaint, or information from other agencies.”
While deaths have declined in recent years, Stockton said fentanyl remains especially dangerous compared to other drugs.
“With fentanyl specifically, it takes a very, very minute amount to bring very quick, sudden death,” he said. “That was not something that we dealt with 20 years ago.”
Stockton said recent declines in overdose deaths may be tied to factors such as increased availability of naloxone, improved training for recognizing overdoses and expanded response programs in Buncombe County. However, he said those improvements have not eliminated the problem.
“At the same time, those fatalities are tragically still happening very often,” he said.
Law enforcement officials also point to the overlap between drug trafficking and firearms as a continuing concern. Stockton said narcotics operations often involve weapons used to protect drugs and money, increasing the risk of violence.
Even with arrests and enforcement efforts, Stockton said the issue continues to evolve.
“Yes, we do see recidivism very commonly,” he said. “And at the same time, humans are very adaptational creatures. If I’m really good at something and I can make a lot of money doing it, it would take a very significant motivator for me to change my behavior.”
He added that there is no simple solution.
“There is no instant solution to that problem,” Stockton said. “As long as there is a demand, people will find a way to bring the supply.”
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Two people have been arrested after a child was removed from a home deemed unsafe by the Columbus County Department of Social Services.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said it is investigating a child endangerment case after a referral about suspected substance abuse.
CCSO officials said that Lynn Richardson and Katelynn Richardson, the primary caregivers, were charged with exposing a child to a controlled substance and exposing a child to a controlled substance by ingestion.
According to arrest warrants, the child was 6 years old. Investigators allege the child had ingested and been exposed to methamphetamine.
Both caregivers were arrested and are being held on a $35,000 secured bond each.
The incident remains under investigation, and officials said additional charges are possible pending further medical and forensic evaluations.
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.
The district said the investment, which is around $21,435.60, was made possible through the support of the county, the Nash County Board of Commissioners, the Nash County Opioid Settlement Advisory Council and the C.A.R.E. Coalition.
“Equipping all 115 Nash County Public School buses with life-saving naloxone and ONEbox overdose response kits demonstrates proactive leadership and a deep investment in protecting children and families across our county,” the district’s transportation leaders said. “This initiative is not just about preparation; it is about prevention, awareness, and ensuring that life-saving tools are accessible when seconds matter most.”
Naloxone is now widely carried by first responders and police. Distribution efforts have also helped make the medication available to community partners. Interim Nash Couty Health Director Liz Lord, who wasn’t invovled in the school bus rollout, said it’s important to make sure the kits are in place as soon as possible.
“Hopefully, they’ll never crack one open on a bus, but if they do need one, it’s there,” Lord said.
Michael Baier, the school district’s director of transportation, said the investment helps him make sure that every child gets to and from school safely.
“We are extremely thankful for Nash County’s support in making this possible,” Baier said. “By equipping all 115 buses with Naloxone and ONEbox kits, we are strengthening our emergency preparedness and reinforcing our commitment to protecting the students entrusted to our care.”
Nash County Public Schools took time to train bus drivers around the district to make sure they know how to use the kits. In 2025, the county provided training to 132 bus drivers and monitors in the district on recognizing the warning signs of an overdose and how to properly administer Naloxone.
Ayone Cooper, a parent with three kids in the school district, said she’s split on the decision. While she sees the benefits of having naloxone on hand, she worries the overdose reversal drug could encourage risky behavior in some children.
“It’s just like you look at it as a child that has an allergy, you know, you want an EpiPen, you want to have access to that EpiPen, and you want to save that child’s life,” Cooper said. “If this were to happen on a school bus, what would we do? We want to save that child’s life.”
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.”
More than 99% of students were not involved in a reportable crime on campus, said Michael Maher, chief accountability officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Most schools reported only zero to five criminal offenses at their school last year, he said.
Criminal offenses went down again in North Carolina schools during the 2024-25 school year, with another significant drop in offenses for weapon possession, new data shows.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released the latest public school crime statistics during the State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
The drop in criminal offenses reported reflects ongoing trends, but so does a continued rise in offenses for drug possession.
Total offenses dropped from 12,212 the year before to 11,470 offenses last year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which released the data Wednesday afternoon.
Read the original article and watch the video on the FoxCarolina News website.
RUTHERFORD, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said a woman already in jail on a $1 million bond has now charged with death by distribution.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were called to a home on Boiling Springs Road in Mooresboro in reference to a possible overdose on Oct. 31, 2025. The victim was provided medical aid and taken to the hospital where they later died.
Officials said a criminal investigation was initiated and on Nov. 19, a search warrant was executed at a home on Country Home Drive.
Amanda Blake Smith(Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office)
During the search, investigators said they found approximately 1,600 pressed fentanyl pills (192 grams), 28 grams of fentanyl powder, and a 9mm handgun.
As a result of the investigation, deputies said Amanda Blake Smith of Forest City was arrested and charged with the following:
(2 counts) Trafficking opium or heroin
Maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance
Possession of marijuana (up to ½ ounce)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Smith was issued a $1,000,000 secured bond on those charges on Nov. 19, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said months later, Smith was additionally charged second-degree murder and death by distribution on Jan. 29, 2026. She will receive a bond for these new charges after she goes before a judge.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A second suspect has been arrested in connection with a fentanyl distribution that resulted in a death, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO).
NHCSO deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive individual on Carolina Beach Road early Sunday, Jan. 11.
Deputies found Kenneth Howard Hudgins, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to an apparent overdose.
According to NHCSO, vice detectives determined during the investigation that Dawn Blankenship and Joshua Alberto Flores were involved in the delivery of fentanyl to Hudgins on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Leah Blankenship and Joshua Alberto Flores(New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office)
NHCSO officials said detectives found Flores on Sunday in possession of a trafficking-level quantity of fentanyl.
He was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl; death by distribution by sale; possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver fentanyl; and sale of fentanyl.
Flores appeared in court Thursday, Jan. 15. He received a $500,000 secured bond and was given a court-appointed attorney.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 9 a.m.
Blankenship, 19, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and charged with death by distribution; selling and delivering fentanyl; and possession with intent to sell and deliver fentanyl.
The assistant district attorney said at her court appearance Jan. 14 that Blankenship was with the victim when he died, but did not call 911 for about an hour.
Blankenship received a $250,000 bond during her court appearance and requested a court-appointed attorney.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
