Park County, CO - The Park County Sheriff's Office responded to an infant death investigation on May 27, 2024. The Park County Coroner's Office has determined the cause of death was a lethal fentanyl overdose. Lance Avey, a 39 year old male was arrested on June 11th for the death (child abuse) of his infant
Approximately six months prior to this incident, the Sheriff's Office and paramedics responded to a different case involving an unconscious and unresponsive infant. Thanks to the prompt action of a highly trained paramedic, the infant's life was saved with Narcan, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking opioid receptors. John Knust a 39 year old male and Jamie Petkas a 32 year old female were both arrested for child abuse on June 4th for the infant who survived.
In the interim between these two incidents, the Park County Sheriff's Office and Park County Coroner's Office have responded to multiple additional deaths that are Fentanyl related. Despite our picturesque and remote location, Fentanyl has infiltrated our community and is becoming a significant issue at an alarming rate.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Please contact the American Addiction Hotline at 888-505-9275. Resources in Colorado, including overdoes prevention, can also be found here: https://fentanyledcolorado.org/resources/.
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