Second fentanyl-related murder charge of the year drops in Abilene
An Abilene man was charged with first-degree murder in connection to a fentanyl-related overdose death, the Abilene Police Department announced Wednesday.
The APD narcotics unit, along with the Taylor County District Attorney's Office, charged Frederick Lamonn Hunter, 49, with murder under Texas House Bill 6.
The bill "allows prosecutors to seek murder charges against a person who supplies/distributes fentanyl that leads to an overdose death," according to a police press release.
'Deceased behind the wheel'
On Jan. 15, 2023, Joanna Bryant, 32, was found "deceased behind the wheel of her vehicle at the Cedar Creek apartment complex parking lot from an apparent overdose," according to the Abilene police.
The police subsequently completed a lengthy investigation, which led to yesterday's arrest of Hunter.
Hunter was booked into Taylor County Jail on Tuesday and was still being held Wednesday on a $200,000 bond for the murder charge and a $5,000 bond for a charge related to possession of a controlled substance, according to court documents.
He faces a possible five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted of the murder charge. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jerrill Kenyon Russell's first-degree murder charge was likely the first in Taylor County related to a fentanyl-induced death.
Russell's charge is in connection to the death of 20-year-old Jessalyn Star Sturgill after she allegedly ingested fake Percocet's that were laced with fentanyl, according to allegations in court documents.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Second fentanyl-related murder charge of the year drops in Abilene
