Fentanyl awareness group hopes for state drug-induced homicide bill to pass

ROCK HILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Members of ‘Fentanyl Kills U’, a victim advocacy and awareness group in York County, lined the streets of downtown Rock Hill Saturday with pictures of their loved ones who died from fentanyl poisoning.

They want drug dealers held accountable.

“They’re trying to make money off of something that’s killing people. And if they’re not being held accountable, they’re going to keep doing it,” said Jenna James. Her son, Branden, died in 2021 after a poisoning. James says her son thought he was taking a Percocet.

“My son came to me and said, “Mom, I think I have a problem. I’ve been taking Percocet and I don’t take them every day, but I want to and I need help.” So, we said, “Okay.”  We canceled his lease, packed him up, brought him home, and five days later, I found him dead on his bedroom floor,” James said.

She says if standing on a corner in the heat with a picture of her son and the cause of his death raises awareness — then so be it.

“I don’t want to meet any more moms. And in the past two and a half years, there have been so many more joining our group that have no idea, none at all,” James said. “None at all, or if they know about that and all, they think it’s a powder form. They think it’s heroin. They think it’s in cocaine. They don’t realize that it’s being pressed into pills that look like Adderall, Xanax, and Percocet. It’s hidden. And that’s what makes it a poisoning.”

South Carolina only has a trafficking bill. Even after two years of state leaders failing to pass the fentanyl-induced homicide bill, James says they won’t stop fighting.

Since North Carolina passed its “Death by Distribution” law in 2019, there have been at least 123 cases. But Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page says the law at times is tough to prove.

“To prove that a drug transaction has taken place and then identify that dealer and make charges against them. Hopefully, that charge will stick in court,” Page said.

It’s the same reason Elizabeth Tedder decided to run for South Carolina’s 5th congressional district. She lost two stepsons to fentanyl poisoning.

“You got dealers handing out, nor can with what they’re distributing. That means you are aware that this is going to take someone’s life. That’s death by distribution. That’s a homicide. That’s not an overdose. That’s not an accident. That’s not that’s just some junkie who took some drugs. That is murder. And they are murdering our children.”

Holly Alsobrooks, the founder of the group, says one York County lawmaker has also given his word that he plans to refile the bill in January at the start of the next legislative session.

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