Deadly overdose leads to charges for sixteen across western Kentucky

An overdose death in February led to a multi-county fentanyl investigation spanning several months that now has sixteen people facing manslaughter and organized crime charges.

Back in February, Livingston County officials responded to an overdose that claimed the life of a 23-year-old man in Ledbetter.

Authorities said it was discovered the man was given fentanyl by two women in McCracken County.

Over three months, officials identified the source of the drugs, which were imported from Colorado, under the direction of 32-year-old Kendrick Owens of Mayfield.

On April 21, a McCracken County Grand Jury indicted nine on organized crime charges. Two of the nine were additionally charged with manslaughter related to the overdose.

The nine were identified as Amberly Alexander, Frankus Cherry, David Roberson, Chelsy Timpe, Bradley Clabough, Tesla Fisher, Tyler Dennison, Jakyron Burnside, and Owens.

Continued work on the case led to arrests or warrants for seven others, including Hallie Hooker, James Farmer, Nathaniel Cashan, Alexis Snipes, Zane Day, Darcy Thompson, and Racheal Land.

Officials said as many as 40,000 fentanyl-laced pills were seized, with a street value of more than $800,000. Most pills recovered were disguised as oxycodone. The pills are often blue in color, and marked with "M 30."