A Midlands man has been charged in connection with a fatal drug overdose in what authorities say is the first case in South Carolina brought under the state’s new fentanyl-induced homicide law.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office announced that 35-year-old Sumter resident Thomas Justin Barwick has been arrested and charged after investigators determined that drugs he allegedly supplied led directly to a man’s death. The victim, identified as 62-year-old William Karl Joseph Myers, died after ingesting drugs that contained fentanyl, according to law enforcement.
Earlier this year, the South Carolina Legislature enacted a law aimed at combating the growing number of fentanyl-related deaths across the state. The legislation allows prosecutors to charge individuals with homicide if they are believed to have knowingly provided fentanyl that results in another person’s death.
“This law gives us an important new tool in the fight against illegal drugs,” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a statement. “We believe this is the first time an agency in South Carolina has brought a charge under this statute, and we are committed to working closely with prosecutors to pursue justice in this case.”
In addition to the fentanyl-induced homicide charge, Barwick faces multiple other charges related to the investigation, officials said. Authorities emphasized that the case reflects a broader effort to hold drug suppliers accountable for the deadly consequences of fentanyl distribution.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as the case moves through the court system.
