Docs: Anderson woman charged with dealing drugs resulting in death
Apr 04, 2025
MADISON COUNTY, Ind. -- An Anderson woman has been arrested and charged for allegedly supplying fentanyl that led to the overdose death of a person.
According to court documents, 32-year-old Whitney Barnard has been arrested and preliminarily charged with the following:
Dealing in a Controll
ed Substance Resulting in Death (Level 1 Felony)
Dealing in a Narcotic Drug: Fentanyl, at least 7g (Level 2 Felony)
Booking photo of Whitney Bardnard provided by the Madison County Jail.
An investigation was launched on Feb. 12, after officers with the Pendleton Police Department responded to a residence for a possible cardiac arrest. Officers arrived on the scene and found an unresponsive woman, later identified as Laila Horan.
Police on the scene soon realized that the incident involved a suspected overdose and administered two doses of Narcan before EMS arrived, court documents said.
Detectives spoke with a man who said he was with Horan on the night of her overdose. The man said he woke up in the middle of the night and recalled seeing Horan unresponsive on the floor. The witness said he provided one dose of Narcan in an effort to revive Horan.
While speaking with police, the man reportedly said that Horan had issues with using substances in the past and believed that fentanyl was "her drug of choice."
As part of their investigation, police reviewed Horan's phone, revealing Barnard as a possible suspect.
Investigators reviewed text messages between Horan and Barnard that appeared to show them planning to meet for 1.5 grams of fentanyl on Feb. 11. Police later determined that Horan had allegedly paid $60 to Barnard via Cash App, according to court documents.
An autopsy report later confirmed that Horan's cause of death was initiated by intoxication by fentanyl and methamphetamine. A toxicology report revealed that Horan tested positive for methamphetamine, multiple antidepressants, the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole, fentanyl and caffeine.
Barnard was subsequently arrested on March 5 and transported to the Madison County Jail. According to online court records, Barnard is scheduled to appear in Madison Circuit Court 6 on June 27 for a dispositional hearing.
This marks at least the third dealing resulting in death arrest authorities have made in Madison County within the last month. Charges were filed against 25-year-old Javonte Johnson on March 25 after detectives said he provided fentanyl that led to the fatal overdose of a man.
On March 31, authorities charged 32-year-old Daqawn Peoples for allegedly providing fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose. ...read more read less