Lawrence woman convicted following 2021 fentanyl death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Douglas County District Attorney Suzanna Valdez announced that a Lawrence woman pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Court documents claim that Chloe L. Colby, 23, of Lawrence, called emergency communications on April 17, 2021 to report that her boyfriend, Kendall R. Stiffler, was unresponsive. Stiffler later died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The autopsy advised that he died from fentanyl and methamphetamine complications.

“We continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who distribute fentanyl to protect our loved ones from this devastating public health crisis,” District Attorney Valdez said.

Colby faces between 31 and 136 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter conviction and between 8 and 45 months in prison for conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Colby will also be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

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