St. Peters Man Dosed Woman with Fatal Fentanyl

A St. Peters man has admitted to selling the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019.

Zachary Hovis, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl.

On November 16, 2019, Hovis supplied fentanyl to a woman in the parking lot of a country club in Weldon Spring, Missouri. The victim drove to a nearby business’s parking lot, where she was found unconscious about an hour and 15 minutes later. Despite a bystander’s attempt to aid the victim by administering naloxone, the victim died. A medical examiner later determined that the immediate cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl intoxication.

Later that day, Hovis supplied fentanyl to another person. That woman would testify that she wanted to buy oxycodone from Hovis and that Hovis said he was supplying oxycodone, Hovis’ plea agreement says. That woman later went to the hospital, believing she was overdosing. She was treated and released.

The investigation into Hovis’ crimes was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Charles County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.

Hovis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3. Each charge is punishable by a prison term of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $1 million or both prison and a fine.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and the devastating impact it can have on families and communities. As the nation grapples with the opioid epidemic, cases like Hovis’ serve as a harsh reminder of the need for continued vigilance and action to combat the scourge of fentanyl and other deadly synthetic opioids.

While some may view Hovis’ crimes as isolated incidents, the facts of the case paint a different picture. Hovis’ actions were part of a larger pattern of behavior that led to the deaths of at least one person and the hospitalization of another. His guilty plea is a small step towards justice, but it is a start.