DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas man has admitted his role in a drug sale death.
On February 2, Randell Mark Smith, 32, of Lawrence, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance in the fentanyl-related death of a 33-year-old Lawrence man, according to Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.
The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred in the 1500 block of Pin Oak Drive during the early morning hours on October 8, 2021. Lawrence Police were called to the home where a 33-year-old male resident was found deceased on the living room floor.
An autopsy later determined fentanyl intoxication as the cause of death. The police investigation then led police to Smith as the distributor of the fentanyl-laced pill taken by the deceased.
Smith also pleaded no contest Friday to driving under the influence, his second offense, in a separate incident that occurred on October 6, 2021, when a Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy observed Smith driving erratically on E 1900 Road, north of K-10 highway.
“Joining forces with law enforcement, my office is committed to aggressively prosecuting these traffickers to bring them to justice and to save lives,” District Attorney Valdez said. “However, stemming this epidemic requires every person in our community recognize the dangers of fentanyl and understand that one pill can kill.”