Lenoir woman convicted of distributing drugs that led to fatal overdose | News

Haas was arrested by the Lenoir Police Department on July 9, 2018, in connection to the overdose death of 20-year-old Lenoir resident Hannah Marie Kincaid. Kincaid was found dead after ingesting a lethal amount of cyclopropyl fentanyl, an altered form of fentanyl, on May 1, 2018, according to the release.

An autopsy report found Kincaid died of cyclopropyl fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone toxicity, the release states.

Following her death, investigation found that Haas was going outside Caldwell County to get the cyclopropyl fentanyl and that she was the person who delivered the deadly drug to Kincaid.

“It became apparent that these drugs were being brought into Caldwell County, and when that happened, the Lenoir Police Department and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office swiftly identified the source of that distribution to help prosecutors build a case against those responsible for this overdose and death,” District Attorney Scott Reilly said. “Their investigation identified the source of these drugs, and once they shut down that source of drugs from coming into Caldwell County, I have no doubt lives were saved.

“I hope that this case sends a message that Caldwell County will not tolerate this. Anyone who distributes opiates will be prosecuted and sent to prison.”

The involuntary manslaughter charge and conviction for a drug overdose are a first for Caldwell County, but investigators and prosecutors indicated they are intent on aggressively pursuing and punishing those responsible for bringing such poisons into the community, according to the release.

Prior to Dec. 1, 2017, cyclopropyl fentanyl was not considered a controlled substance at the state level as it was at the federal level. However, state law changed in 2017, allowing investigators to pursue death by distribution for those people involved in dealing drugs that lead to death by overdose, the release states.

Sgt. Howard spearheaded the investigation for Lenoir Police Department with assistance from Cpl. Raby of the Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee prosecuted the case for the state.