) - The first cases in Baldwin County being prosecuted under Alabama House Bill 10 involve an overdose death prosecutors say was caused by fentanyl over the weekend.
Over the last five years, the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office has seen overdose deaths increase from a total of 22 in 2019 to a record high of 75 last year. A closer look shows that of the 75 reported overdose deaths in the 2023 fiscal year, 48 of them were fentanyl related. Through June 30th of this year, 20 of the 46 overdose deaths are fentanyl related.
Baldwin County Coroner, Dr, Brian Pierce was able to quickly identify fentanyl overdose as the likely cause of death thanks to a new testing device his office has recently purchased. Investigators said they were already familiar with these suspects and the investigative process worked as it should.