Man who sold elephant sedative as heroin charged with murder
Carfentanil is one of the world’s most powerful opioids. It’s over 10,000 times more potent than morphine, normally used as a general anesthetic for large animals like elephants, and a drug dealer in Columbus sold it as heroin, leading to 10 overdoses, one of which was fatal.
Rayshon La Carlos Alexander, 36, is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, ten counts of corrupting another with drugs, four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and four counts of trafficking in heroin.
Sean N. Kuehner, 34 died, and nine other people were injured after overdosing on carfentanil on July 10.
Police say the overdoses happened in a span of hours in the vicinity surrounding Bishop Hartley High School.
Alexander is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
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7/19/16: Shocker: Elephant sedative found in deadly heroin
When authorities in Akron tested a batch of heroin that seemed to be extra deadly, they made a disconcerting discovery.
Traces of the drug carfentanil were found in some of the syringes used to inject heroin into the users’ bodies, a sedative used for large animals, like elephants.
Authorities think some dealers might have been spiking their heroin with carfentanil to create a stronger product.
“It’s a pretty potent and powerful drug,” said David Barnhardt, spokesman for the Akron Zoo. “We don’t even have it here at the zoo. We don’t have any animals large enough.”
In Akron alone, 91 overdoses and eight deaths were reported in the 10 days from July 5 to July 14.
Authorities aren’t sure where the carfentanil is coming from, or if the high rate of overdoses is linked to the elephant sedative, but they say it is a troubling development.
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7/12/16: Heroin dealer arrested in connection with overdose deaths
Columbus Police SWAT believe they have arrested the heroin dealer connected with the 10 drug overdoses that occurred in a nine hour period on Sunday. Two of those overdoses resulted in deaths.
Rayshon Alexander was charged with one count of corrupting another with drugs.
Columbus Police Sergeant Rich Weiner said he didn’t know what made the heroin so dangerous, but his team is hoping to analyze some of the drug.
In response to the overdoses, local non-profit organization Equitas Health is trying to expand access and awareness of overdose drug Naloxone, which can halt an overdose in progress.
Starting today, concerned family members who lack health insurance or otherwise cannot afford the drug can apply for assistance at Equitas Health’s Short North Medical Center located at 1033 N. High St.
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7/11/16: Police Warning: Highly dangerous heroin in Columbus
Following reports of nine suspected opiate overdoses on Sunday, Columbus Police are saying a dangerous batch of heroin could be in Columbus.
According to police, the nine overdoses all happened in the same part of town, and two of the users died.
Police are warning heroin users to destroy any heroin in their possession because of its highly potent and dangerous effects.
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