Muncie man arrested in Bluffton teenager's overdose death

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man is accused of providing a Wells County teenager with the fentanyl that led to her fatal overdose.

Teagon Eugene Thatcher II, 23, was arrested in recent days on a preliminary count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison.

In an affidavit, a detective with the Bluffton Police Department reported a 17-year-old member of that community — 45 miles northeast of Muncie — died Feb. 27 as a result of an overdose.

According to the court document, the teen's cellphone had text messages from Thatcher indicating the teen arranged to pick up 1.5 grams of a street drug — referred to as "slo," which is believed to be fentanyl — on the day before her death.

A witness confirmed the victim went to a home along West 10th Street in Muncie on Feb. 26.

Evidence indicated the teenager never left her home after returning there soon after the trip to Delaware County, the affidavit said.

Thatcher — also listed at an address in Decatur in court documents — was arrested Wednesday. He continues to be held in the Delaware County Jail under a $50,000 bond.

The Delaware County prosecutor's office will determine whether formal charges will be filed in the case.

Last July, Thatcher was charged with neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month sentence, in Delaware Circuit Court 1. A trial in that case is set for Aug. 6.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.