Alleged drug dealer charged with murder after fentanyl death in Abilene

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – An alleged drug dealer has been charged with murder after a fentanyl overdose death in Abilene.

Antonio Pena was booked into the Taylor County Jail on a 1st Degree Murder charge Tuesday in connection to the death of Michael Henderson.

Court documents reveal Henderson was found deceased from an apparent overdose in January 2024 when members of the Taylor County Constable’s office went to serve him with an eviction notice to vacate his grandmother’s shed on the 1400 block of Locust Street due to continued drug use.

Officers saw Henderson lying face down outside the shed. The documents state he, “did not show signs of life and had fluid coming out of his mouth.”

The documents state an autopsy revealed Henderson died from methamphetamine and fentanyl toxicity and that his body showed signs that his death occurred shortly after ingesting fentanyl.

During the investigation into his death, the documents state Antonio Pena was identified as the person who gave Henderson fentanyl.

Pena allegedly told Henderson’s grandmother he was sorry for giving him fentanyl. Pena also told her they did fentanyl and cocaine together the night before Henderson’s death and that he gave Henderson a fentanyl pill when he left Pena’s house in the morning, according to the documents.

Pena remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $100,000 bond.