3 dead and 6 hospitalized in Chatham County after apparently taking cocaine mixed with pain killer
SILER CITY -- The Chatham County Sheriff's Office says three people are dead and seven more were sickened after apparently ingesting cocaine mixed with a powerful pain killer.
The deaths occurred within hours of each other in the Siler City and Bear Creek areas. Deputies said it appeared all of the victims were affected within one hour of taking the illegal drugs.
The dead were identified as:
Michael Currie, 42, of Curtis Brower Rd, Bear Creek.
Randal Welch, 24, of Franklinville, NC.
Perry Saunders, 23, of Aurora, Missouri.
Currie died at his home. Saunders and Welch died at a residence in the 11000 block of NC 902, Bear Creek.
Deputies said a total of 7 people were treated either on scene or at three area hospitals: Chatham Hospital in Siler City, Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford and UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. At least one was listed in critical condition.
A chemist from the North Carolina state Bureau of Investigation identified a sample collected from one of the scenes. The powder substance was a combination of cocaine and Fentanyl.
Fentanyl is pain killer 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and many times more potent than heroin.
Deputies are working with local, state, and federal agencies to determine who may be responsible.
Autopsies will be performed by the N.C. Medical Examiner's Office.
"It is always difficult to lose a loved one, but especially hard during this season of the year. Our thoughts and prayers go out to each family," said Chief Deputy Michael Roberson in a statement.
