On 08/25/2019 at approximately 9:02 a.m. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to Kentucky Dam Marina in Calvert City in reference to a possible drowning victim. Upon arrival to the marina, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife located the body of a deceased juvenile in the water. Officers also discovered two unresponsive juveniles on a houseboat. The two juveniles were transported to the hospital. During their investigation, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife discovered that the juveniles on the houseboat were possibly victims of an overdose. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife contacted the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in reference to the possible overdoses.
During a preliminary investigation, detectives with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office conducted interviews with numerous individuals. Detectives with McCracken County Sheriff’s Offices were also contacted to assist in the drug investigation. Based on totality of the circumstances and the preliminary investigation, law enforcement officials suspect that both juveniles may have overdosed on pills appearing to be Xanax, which contained fentanyl. Over the course of the investigation the past 2 days, detectives interviewed numerous individuals and executed several search warrants.
On 08/25/2019 detectives located Stoney Hendrickson (age 25) at his residence on Moors Camp Hwy. in Marshall County. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence. Detectives seized pills appearing to be Xanax with suspected fentanyl, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, firearms and over $1200 in cash. Stoney Hendrickson was arrested by detectives with the Marshall County Sheriff Office and charged with one count of aggravated trafficking in controlled substance more than 10 grams carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives. Hendrickson was lodged in the Marshall County Jail.
The investigation is continuing and more charges and defendants are possible.
According to law enforcement and open source reporting, multiple fatal overdoses across the United States have been linked to fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management treatment of cancer patients, applied in a patch on the skin. Since fentanyl is so potent, it is highly sought by drug addicts for the purpose of abuse. Fentanyl is added to heroin to increase its potency, or be disguised as highly potent heroin. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and actually don’t know that they are purchasing fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths. Fentanyl is readily available online and is reportedly manufactured in China. Fentanyl is shipped to the United States and ordered via the dark web by drug abusers and drug traffickers. Fentanyl is also shipped to Mexico and smuggled into the United States. Fentanyl can be sold in the pure powder form, mixed with other controlled substances such as legal prescription medications and/or pressed into a tablet form.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, McCracken County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife feels it is extremely important to warn the public that fentanyl and other synthetic drugs are very dangerous. Fentanyl is being manufactured in China and is not regulated. The same amount of fentanyl may have different potencies, depending on manufacturing location, etc… There have been numerous reported incidents of serious injury merely from the inhalation of or physical contact with fentanyl.
The present outcome of the investigation was only possible by the cooperation of the three departments. This investigation has spanned several communities and is continuing. If you have any information related to this investigation and/or any information related to the trafficking of illegal drugs, please contact the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office at (270) 527-3112.
