16 & Pregnant star ARRESTED for involuntary manslaughter

16 & Pregnant star Whitney Purvis has reportedly been arrested for felony involuntary manslaughter involving a fatal overdose.

According to online records, obtained by TMZ, the former MTV reality star, 33, was brought into police custody in Floyd County, Georgia on Monday.

She is being accused of ‘intentionally distributing’ a drug called Tranq, which is a mixture of xylazine and fentanyl.

Authorities said that the victim is a 37-year-old man named John Mark Harris, who was most recently employed as a chef at Barnsley Gardens.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Purvis for comment but has yet to hear back.

FOX 5 Atlanta reported that police officers found Harris dead from an overdose after arriving at his home in Rome on February 17, 2025. 

16 & Pregnant star Whitney Purvis has reportedly been arrested for felony involuntary manslaughter involving a fatal overdose

16 & Pregnant star Whitney Purvis has reportedly been arrested for felony involuntary manslaughter involving a fatal overdose

At the scene, cops described ‘seeing possible drug paraphernalia.’ 

The outlet claims a ‘warrant for Purvis’s arrest accuses her of supplying Harris with’ Tranq. 

Harris’s obituary highlighted him as a Darlington School graduate and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity while he was at Hampden-Sydney College. 

As stated in Harris’s obituary, ‘John Mark never met a stranger and had a special way of caring for those who came into his life. Whether it was tending to a wound, providing rides to the airport, or offering a place to stay, he was always willing to help. His love was fierce, and he would do anything for a friend. John.’ 

His loved ones also described him as giving the ‘best hugs’ and having the ‘most infectious smile.’ 

Under the post, Purvis left a heartfelt message and an apology for missing his funeral.   

‘John Mark, I regret learning about what happened today and missing your funeral. I wish I had known sooner so I could have been there to celebrate your life,’ she expressed. 

‘You’ve came to my rescue on many occasions and saved me over the years. We bonded over being chefs, our love of cooking and our struggles,’ Purvis continued. ‘I could tell you anything and you always knew what to say or give me your honest opinion and advice.’

Authorities said that the victim is a 37-year-old man named John Mark Harris, who was most recently employed as a chef at Barnsley Gardens

Authorities said that the victim is a 37-year-old man named John Mark Harris, who was most recently employed as a chef at Barnsley Gardens

Under Harris's obituary, Purvis left a heartfelt message and an apology for missing his funeral

Under Harris’s obituary, Purvis left a heartfelt message and an apology for missing his funeral

Purvis went on to state she was thankful for the time they had together, before admitting she was having difficulty processing the loss. 

‘I don’t want it to be true. I’ll miss waking up to your silly messages and pictures you’d send me,’ she added. ‘I’ll miss your amazing cooking. I’ll miss snuggling on the couch watching TV with you.’

She concluded: ‘Most of all, I’ll miss you, a truly good hearted & one of a kind man, John Mark. I’ll never forget you. Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and friends. I pray they are able to find some kind of comfort during this tragic time. I love you forever, John Mark. Love, Whitney.’ 

"Former '16 & Pregnant' Cast Member Arrested for Involuntary Manslaughter"

‘You’ve came to my rescue on many occasions and saved me over the years. We bonded over being chefs, our love of cooking and our struggles,’ Purvis wrote

Her arrest comes just one month after she announced the tragic passing of her son Weston Jr., who was just 16

Her arrest comes just one month after she announced the tragic passing of her son Weston Jr., who was just 16

This is not her first brush with the law as Purvis has been previously arrested for shoplifting and contempt of court related to child support payments. 

Her arrest comes just one month after she announced the tragic passing of her son  Weston Jr., who was just 16.

‘This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don’t understand,’ she wrote on Facebook. 

The boy’s stepmother Amy Gosa shared on Facebook that day that ‘we got up this morning around 7 am and tried to wake him up, he was not breathing,’ noting he ‘had several health issues as well as diabetes.’

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