Fake Percocet Pills Lead to Overdoses and Fatalities - Case Remains Under Investigation

Jul 15, 2016 at 11:22 am by bryan


While one arrest has been made in the case involving fake Percocet pills being sold in Rutherford County, other arrests are likely. The fake Percocet is leading to instant overdoses and deaths in our community.

The pill that has been sold in Rutherford County is actually made with Fentanyl, which is 50-times stronger than heroin. It is often prescribed to cancer patients experiencing extreme pain. When mixed with alcohol, it is often lethal.

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The TBI sent out a warning stating, "In recent days, Agents in the Middle Tennessee area have seen a spike in adulterated Percocet pills being sold on the street and are warning users that these counterfeit pills have deadly consequences. Active and ongoing investigations continue into the source of these pills."

WGNS has been following the overdoses in Murfreesboro carefully and reports indicate that right now, Johnny L. Williams has been the only one arrested for the fake pills being sold as of July 15, 2016. Williams, who lives in Murfreesboro, was arrested after an investigation by the TBI, Murfreesboro Police and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

On July 8, 2016 TBI Agents arrested Williams at his home on Mason Pike in Murfreesboro. Williams was charged with one count of Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance and was booked into the Rutherford County Jail under a $100,000 bond.

The case remains active and ongoing and special agents hope to determine who is making the fake Percocet.

Some of the Murfreesboro Police Reports Released (UPDATED!):

Drug Overdose: 16-12814

On June 25, 2016, Murfreesboro Police Officer R. Whitley was called to investigate a 35 year old Murfreesboro man who was found unconscious with a needle in his hand. A witness told the officer that he viewed the man walking in the area of Landmark Lane and noticed the man seemed to be unsteady. The witness then saw the subject collapse in the roadway. Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene and administered Narcan, an opiate antidote. The lifesaving drug revived the man who told police he had recently used heroin. The man was transported to St. Thomas Rutherford and survived the accidental drug overdose.

Unattended Death: 16-13003

On June 28, 2016, Murfreesboro Police responded to the Candlewood Inn and Suites on Thompson Lane to assist paramedics with a white male who was found face down, deceased in a motel room. Friends who were in the room with the now dead 21-year old told first responders they assumed their friend was only asleep. The three subjects who were in the motel room with the deceased male were transported to the police department for questioning. The victim is from Liberty, Tennessee.

Attended Death: 16-13182

A man walking down West Northfield Blvd. appeared to have lost his balance, according to witnesses, and fell down in a field. The 50 year old man then had a seizure. After the seizure, a witness told police the man became unresponsive. The subject was pronounced deceased at 16:47 hours on 6/30/16.

Unattended Death: 16-13437

On the afternoon of July 4, 2016, Murfreesboro Police responded to Apache Trail in reference to a death investigation. Once at the address in question, police found a 35 year old woman who was deceased. Detectives with the MPD collected "Drug Paraphernalia and other evidence" from the inside of the home.

Accidental overdose: 16-13554

Police responded to the Colony House Apartments on July 5, 2016 in reference to an overdose. Evidently a 27 year old female was found to be passed out in a bathroom. The victim was transported to St. Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro. The report shows that the woman possibly snorted crushed up Percocet prior to overdosing. At last report, she was alive after the overdose which was accidental.

UPDATE - Drug Overdose: 16-13595

On July 6, 2016, Police were called to a fast food eatery on North Rutherford Boulevard in Murfreesboro where a man was found to be unconscious in his vehicle. CPR was conducted and the man was then taken to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. According to the report, the 28-year old victim had a bad response to Percocet, possibly one of the fake pills sold in Murfreesboro. The good news, he is expected to recover and did not die as others have in the past several weeks. The case is under investigation.

UPDATE - Drug Overdose: 16-13612

A 23 year old woman was transported by a friend to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital on July 6th after she fell unconscious. The man who drove her to the Emergency Room told police that she passed out after taking a Percocet. The investigation is underway.

EMS Assist: 16-13573

Murfreesboro Police responded to Jerickia Court to assist medical personnel with 26 year old man who was found unresponsive on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Once at the scene, the complainant told police the man went outside to smoke, but never came back inside. The complainant went outside to check on the subject and found him unresponsive. CPR was performed and the man was taken to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. His condition is not known. Detectives were called to investigate the man's prior drug use history.

Attended Death: 16-13583

Murfreesboro Police were called to Eagle Street on Wednesday in regards to deceased female. A friend of the female told police that the deceased 33 year old did not have a prior medical history. Detectives took over the investigation.

Pill Overdose: 16-13618

Police responded to an address on Rochester Drive in Murfreesboro on Wednesday (6/7/16) due to an unresponsive female who is 35 years of age. The husband of the woman told authorities that his wife had taken her prescription medication and possibly a Percocet. The husband told officers that his wife was on the Rover bus earlier in the day and that an unknown woman on the bus may have given her the Percocet. The 35 year old woman was said to have a pulse when she was transported to the hospital.

Drug Overdose: 16-13620

On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Murfreesboro Police were called in reference to a woman overdosing on what she believed to be Percocet. The 26 year old woman told police that she and three other persons purchased the drug on July 5, 2016 during the evening hours. The victim who called the authorities said that she took one of the pills and became unconscious. She told police to take the pill, she crushed it and then snorted it. Her boyfriend had to revive her. The boyfriend later took a pill as well. He too overdosed and was transported to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. Another person also took a pill and died, according to the same police report filed from the same address.

Unintentional Overdose: 16-13720

During the early morning hours on Friday, July 8, 2016, police in Murfreesboro were called to a mobile home on North Tennessee Boulevard for a drug overdose. Once on the scene, police found an unresponsive 21 year old female. A witness at the scene was giving the female CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive. The woman was transported to St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital and did survive. She later told police that she did not intend to overdose.

NOTE: Overdose deaths have also been reported in nearby Shelbyville, TN this week.

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