BEAUMONT, Texas — Harry Francis Lowenthal and Dalton Batiste have been indicted for 2nd degree manslaughter and two counts of murder respectively.
This is the first time in Jefferson County that the new state statute, to indict someone for murder after selling drugs laced with fentanyl, is being utilized.
If convicted, Lowenthal faces 2-20 years in prison and Batiste faces 5-99 years in prison.
The two suspects are being charged with murder and manslaughter after three people died in January 2024 from a fentanyl overdose.
On January 10, 2024 officers arrived at a home in the 2300 block of Tyler St after 11:30 p.m. Firefighters and medics were already working on the men who were all unresponsive, according to a news release from Beaumont Police at the time.
Officers assisted by administering Narcan to two of the men and deploying an automated external defibrillator, or AED, on the other man while medics performed CPR the release said.
Narcotics officers and detectives responded and after preliminary investigation police believe the men bought counterfeit pills that were laced with fentanyl.
Police say the men collapsed after taking the pills.
Crime scene technicians were also sent to the home to gather evidence at the scene according to dispatch records.
Police say they want to remind everyone that it takes less than 2mg of fentanyl mixed into a counterfeit pill to kill someone.
The fake pills, which are widely available and easy to buy, are made to look like prescription opioids often contain the deadly drug according to police.
"It really truly is one pill can kill," Beaumont police officer Haley Morrow previously told 12News.
In 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration launched its "One Pill Can Kill" campaign.
It aims to share the deadly stories of overdoses. They believe the drug abuse often begins in high school.
"Their life is on track to do great things and they take a pill that they bought from somebody that they think is a prescription pill, and it's not it's a counterfeit pill and it kills them," Morrow said.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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