CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — A man and a woman have been arrested and charged in connection with fatal overdoses in Edenton, the Chowan County Sheriff's Office said.
On Monday, Sept. 16, a Chowan County jury indicted Steve Allen Patrick, Jr. and Ja’Nyryah White in connection with several fatal overdoses.
According to deputies, in December 2023, Chowan County had at least three fatal overdoses and several non-fatal overdoses within 15 days. 66-year-old Janice Chilcutt, 61-year-old Ronald Adderly, and 24-year-old April Tapia are believed to have died from a drug overdose.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) initiated investigations into all three deaths. Following the investigations, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Patrick and White were arrested by the SBI, Chowan County Sheriff’s Office and the Edenton Police Department.
Patrick was charged with two counts of death by distribution of certain controlled substances related to the deaths of Chilcutt and Adderly. After going before a magistrate at the Chowan County Sheriff’s Office, Patrick was issued a $500,000 secured bond.
White was charged with one count of death by distribution of certain controlled substances for the death of Tapia. After going before a magistrate at the Chowan County Sheriff’s Office, White was issued a $250,000 secured bond and transferred to the Albemarle District Jail.
