St. Cloud Man Arrested Months After Fatal Overdose in Seminole County

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. –

A St. Cloud man has been arrested on Tuesday in connection with a fatal overdose that occurred several months ago at a residence in Seminole County, according to the sheriff’s office.

The arrest warrant states that deputies responded to a medical emergency at a home on Anna Drive on January 2. Upon arrival, it was discovered that Tristan Buttrum, the victim, had passed away after being involved in a fight with his girlfriend.

The fight occurred while Buttrum and his girlfriend were living together in the house, along with her grandfather. After leaving the residence following the altercation, the girlfriend asked her grandfather to check on Buttrum’s well-being, leading to the discovery of his lifeless body in bed, with blood coming out of his nose.

Investigators revealed that Buttrum had previously suffered an injury and was prescribed an opioid-based medication. However, he had been battling drug abuse since then, as mentioned in the warrant.

Further investigation showed that Buttrum had been consuming counterfeit Percocet pills, which are often laced with fentanyl when sold illegally. Fentanyl poisoning was ultimately determined to be the cause of his death.

Connection to Drug Dealer Revealed

Cell phone messages obtained by authorities indicate that Buttrum had been communicating with an individual known as “Dude” regarding drug transactions involving Alprazolam.

Investigators successfully traced these messages to the residence of Michael Dandorf, a Winter Springs resident. A search warrant was executed at Dandorf’s home, leading to his subsequent arrest on numerous drug-related charges.

Dandorf confessed to authorities that he had traveled to California to purchase a significant quantity of pressed fentanyl pills.

After an extensive months-long investigation, detectives determined that Dandorf had met with Vicente Diaz, aged 22, to acquire the pills.

Consequently, Diaz was taken into custody and is now facing a first-degree murder charge for the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He is currently being held without bond.

Conclusion

This arrest serves as a significant development in the case of Tristan Buttrum’s fatal overdose. Law enforcement authorities are committed to holding those responsible for the distribution of dangerous drugs accountable for their actions.

As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office urges anyone with information related to this case or any other drug-related criminal activity to come forward and provide assistance to ensure a safer community.

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