CCSO charges another man with murder following drug overdose investigation

ELIZABETHTON – The Carter County Sheriff's Office has charged another man with second degree murder following an investigation of an earlier drug overdose death that happened in 2021. On Thursday, Carter County deputies arrested Darrell Lewis, 53, on an indictment charging his with second degree murder. The charge against Lewis stems from an investigation that began on May 5, 2021, when officers responded to a report of an overdose at a residence in Hampton. When officers arrived, they found a 39-year-old man at the residence was dead. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was due to an overdose of drugs. The sheriff's department said that during the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the man had purchased the drugs that led to his overdose from Lewis. Investigators presented the case to a Carter County grand jury earlier this month. The grand jury handed down the indictment charging Lewis with second degree murder. Lewis was booked into the Carter County Detention Center on Thursday evening and was released after posting a $100,000 bond. "This was a lengthy investigation, and I commend our investigators for continuing to pursue justice for the victim and his family," Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said. "Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous drug, and it poses a serious problem for our community. In addition to being potentially fatal to those who use it, fentanyl also poses a risk of death to those who are exposed to it accidentally. Our officers are working constantly to identify and prosecute those who sell drugs, particularly those who sell drugs that lead to death, and hold them accountable for their actions," Sheriff Fraley said.