Gaylord man arrested after 18-year-old woman's fentanyl death

A Gaylord man has been arrested after he allegedly sold a woman the fentanyl pills that resulted in her overdose death.

The Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force says it responded to a reported overdose death on the 200 block of First Street South in Montgomery on Jan. 8.

An 18-year-old woman was found dead at the scene. Half of an M30 fentanyl pill and rolled up dollar bills and straws containing fentanyl residue were also found nearby.

An autopsy later identified fentanyl toxicity as the woman’s cause of death.

Agents with the task force eventually identified a 22-year-old Gaylord man as the woman’s suspected supplier of fentanyl. The woman had reportedly transferred money to the suspect on CashApp on the morning of the overdose.

During a February search warrant of the suspect’s house, agents found two and a half of the same fentanyl pills involved in the overdose. He also later admitted to selling the victim the pills around the time of her death, according to the task force.

The man was arrested on pending third-degree murder charges on Wednesday and is currently in custody at the Le Sueur County Jail.

“Fentanyl and overdoses continue to be a major problem in our area among all ages, but especially for our youth,” task force commander Scott O’Brien said in a statement.

“The availability and use of these dangerous drugs in our school aged children is concerning. Just one pill can result in instant death for our youth and others that are addicted to this dangerous drug.”