Investigations following the tragic drug overdose deaths of two people in Picayune resulted in the arrest of two people and the search for another, authorities said.
Picayune Police are seeking the whereabouts of Sylvester McDonald. Warrants have been issued for his arrest on two charges of controlled drug transfers. Anyone who knows where he is should call police dispatch at 601-749-5482 or MS Coast Crimestoppers at 877-787-5898.
Callers to Crime Crimestoppers can remain anonymous and may get a monetary reward if their information leads to a felony arrest.
Brittney Nicole Comeaux of Picayune was charged with conspiracy to transfer a controlled substance, and Meghan Elizabeth Bucher of Nicholson was charged with both conspiracy and transfer of a controlled substance, according to Police Chief Joe Quave.
“Over the last week and a half, we have had the devastating loss of two individuals from overdose deaths,” Quave told the press. “From day one, the Picayune Police Department Special Operations Division has been investigating the deaths.”
Comeaux, 26, was charged after conducting many interviews and examining forensic evidence related to one of the overdose deaths.
According to Quave, the dead will not be identified at the request of their family.
“It is believed that several weeks before the victim’s death, Comeaux facilitated a drug transaction between the victim and another individual,” he told reporters.
This case is still ongoing, and police anticipate that additional arrests will be made as the investigation progresses.
Following Jeremy Antoine’s overdose death, detectives gathered video footage and digital evidence. Bucher, 37, was interviewed and arrested for both conspiracy to transmit a prohibited substance and actual transmission of a controlled substance, according to Quave.
Police wanted to apply Parker’s Law, which increases the penalty for people who distribute fentanyl-laced drugs and cause the death of another person.
Parker’s Law empowers authorities to pursue harsher punishments against people who distribute counterfeit pills containing a deadly amount of fentanyl.
The 2022 law is named for Parker Rodenbaugh, a Mississippi State University student from Madison who died of a drug overdose in 2014.
“Unfortunately, certain elements weren’t met and we weren’t able to charge anyone in these cases with fentanyl delivery resulting in death but it won’t keep us from thoroughly pursuing all leads and charging those involved with any and every crime committed,” Quave said. “The Picayune Police Department is passionate about eliminating dangerous drugs and will continue to combat it. We are very thankful for those that helped us with these investigations. If you know of anyone distributing dangerous drugs we continue to ask that you turn them in. Fentanyl doesn’t discriminate and it could be someone close to you affected next.”
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