Arrest made in 2022 Tangipahoa Parish fatal overdose case

PONCHATOULA, La. (WGNO) — An arrest has been made in connection with a 2022 fentanyl overdose death investigation in Tangipahoa Parish.

According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home in Ponchatoula in July 2022, where they found 19-year-old Louis Reynier unresponsive.

TPSO deputies said Reynier was pronounced dead after performing live-saving measures, and an autopsy reportedly determined that the death was “the result of an overdose with a significant amount of Fentanyl present in the victim’s blood.”

Reynier’s case was reopened after a family member brought awareness to it.

TPSO officials said narcotics detectives began investigating and identified 30-year-old Deandre Dominique Wheeler as a suspect.

According to the TPSO, Wheeler allegedly sold the drugs to Reynier.

He was taken into custody on Thursday. During a search of his Ponchatoula home, TPSO detectives said they found counterfeit Xanax pills suspected to contain fentanyl, marijuana, scales, packaging materials and cellular devices.

Wheeler faces charges of second-degree murder, distribution of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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