Growing number of dealers charged with death after selling to people who overdose

Mike Millette sits in the visitors center at the state prison in Concord, N.H., on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Millette's friend, Ed Martin III, had been found dead in the bathroom of a convenience store, slumped over on his knees with a needle and a residue-stained spoon in his pocket. He’d mainlined fentanyl, an opioid up to 50 times more powerful than heroin. Martin's overdose would bring tears to his eyes. But he was scared, too. He was his dealer, the man who'd sold him his final fix. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

By Associated Press August 15, 2016 6 min read

LITTLETON, N.H. (AP) – He knew he was in trouble even before he read the text message: “Did u hear what hapnd 2 ed?”

Ed Martin III had been found dead in the bathroom of a convenience store. He’d mainlined fentanyl, an opioid up to 50 times more powerful than heroin.

Michael Millette was sad that his friend, just 28, had died. But he was scared, too. He’d sold him his final fix.

Millette fled to Vermont, but quickly returned to sell more drugs to support his habit. Now, though, police had a tip that he’d been Martin’s dealer. After he sold drugs to an informant, they arrested him.

That’s when Millette joined a growing number of dealers around the nation to face prosecution for the fatal heroin and fentanyl overdoses of their customers. He was charged not just with drug dealing, but with causing Martin’s death.