A former participant of MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” found herself in legal trouble this past Monday in Georgia. She faces several charges, with involuntary manslaughter being the most serious, after a man succumbed to fentanyl poisoning earlier in the year.
Whitney Purvis, aged 33, is currently detained in the Floyd County Jail, situated in Rome, Georgia, roughly 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta. The online jail records show that she is being held without bond. It’s unclear if she has legal representation to respond to these charges, as no attorney information is listed.
The arrest is tied to the February death of a man named John Mark Harris.
According to his obituary, John Mark was a person who never considered anyone a stranger and was known for his kindness and generosity. “Whether it was bandaging a wound, trips to the airport, or providing a place for someone to stay temporarily, he was always ready to offer help,” it states, adding, “He loved intensely and was always willing to do anything for his friends.”
An arrest warrant accuses Purvis of giving Harris a combination of xylazine and fentanyl known as “Tranq” that led to an overdose, according to TMZ.
Purvis was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration and local officers, according to a statement from the federal agency. The investigation is ongoing, the DEA said.
“DEA reminds the public that nearly 70% of all drug-related deaths involve synthetic opioids, like fentanyl,” said Jae Chung, DEA acting special agent in charge of the Atlanta office. “Two milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially deadly dose.”
The arrest comes a month after Purvis, who appeared on the reality show “16 and Pregnant” in 2009, lost her eldest son Weston Jr. on June 2 when he died of natural causes, according to Deadline.
In a Facebook post, Purvis said Weston Jr. suffered from diabetes, Addison’s disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and alleged that he wasn’t receiving proper medical care. Before his death, the teen had been living with his father, who has reportedly denied Purvis’ claims.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
