ROME, Ga. (NEXSTAR) — A woman who appeared on MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” was arrested Monday in Georgia on charges including involuntary manslaughter related to a man’s death by fentanyl poisoning earlier this year.
Whitney Purvis, 33, was being held without bond in the Floyd County Jail in Rome, Georgia, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, according to online jail records. Online records did not indicate whether she had an attorney who could comment the charges.
The arrest is tied to the February death of a man named John Mark Harris.
“John Mark never met a stranger and had a way of caring for those who crossed his path. Whether it was bandaging a wound, trips to the airport, or a place to lay their heads for a time, he was willing to lend a hand,” Harris’ obituary reads. “He loved fiercely and would do anything he could for one of 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.
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