Gerald Lee Anderson III : Baldwin County Charges Suspects in Fentanyl Deaths

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WALA) – The recent prosecution of the first cases in Baldwin County under Alabama House Bill 10 has brought to light a tragic incident involving an overdose death linked to fentanyl over the weekend. This new law, which came into effect in April, allows law enforcement to press charges against individuals believed to be responsible for fentanyl overdose deaths, charging them with manslaughter.

On Monday morning, July 1, 2024, four defendants made appearances before Baldwin County District Judge, Bill Scully for bond hearings. According to prosecutor, Patrick Doggett, each of the defendants played a role in the death of an unidentified female in Orange Beach on Saturday night.

The individuals charged with manslaughter under the new Alabama law include 27-year-old Gerald Lee Anderson III, 32-year-old Roshell Michael Benson, 25-year-old Malia Autumn Decautur, and 22-year-old Madison Lee Hayek, all residents of Baldwin County.

In the past five years, the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office has witnessed a significant rise in overdose deaths, with numbers escalating from 22 in 2019 to a record high of 75 in the previous year. Of the 75 reported overdose deaths in the 2023 fiscal year, 48 were related to fentanyl. As of June 30th this year, 20 out of the 46 overdose deaths were fentanyl-related.

Patrick Doggett, the prosecutor, emphasized the challenges in proving the proximate cause of death in overdose cases but expressed confidence that the focus on such cases will lead to more prosecutions under the new law.

The swift action taken in the Orange Beach case by the Orange Beach Police and Baldwin County Drug Task Force, which led to the identification and arrest of the suspects within 24 hours, highlights the dedication of resources towards combating drug-related deaths.

Dr. Brian Pierce, the Baldwin County Coroner, was able to determine fentanyl overdose as the likely cause of death promptly, thanks to a new testing device acquired by his office. The investigators, familiar with the suspects, were able to swiftly connect the dots and bring them to justice.

Chief Deputy for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Colonel Anthony Lowery, commended the investigative work that led to the identification of the suspects and stressed the significance of holding drug dealers accountable for their actions.

The prosecutors noted that the victim had some familiarity with at least one of the suspects, who allegedly brought the drugs to her. Whether the victim paid for the drugs remains unclear, but investigators assert that this detail is inconsequential in the pursuit of justice.

Colonel Anthony Lowery underscored the severity of the charges, stating that the maximum sentence for a manslaughter conviction far exceeds that of drug distribution charges. The defendants were each granted bonds, with Anderson, Benson, and Hayek receiving a $100,000 bond, while Decauter’s bond was set at $50,000. In addition to the manslaughter charges, all but Decauter face probation violations and other related charges.