St. Cloud, Minnesota – A 28-year-old woman has been sentenced to prison for her involvement in selling a fentanyl-laced pill that led to a fatal overdose in 2020. The incident unfolded when law enforcement responded to a call about a woman found deceased in a residence on 14th Street North in St. Cloud. An autopsy later revealed that the cause of death was attributed to a fentanyl overdose.

A breakthrough in the case came in 2023 when investigators were able to access messages on the victim’s phone, which implicated Ashley Anne-Marie Kapol in the sale of a Perc 30 pill to the deceased individual. Notoriously, Perc 30 pills are known for containing fentanyl, a potent opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths.

Following a confession in jail and a plea of guilty to a charge of third-degree murder related to the distribution of controlled substances, Ashley Anne-Marie Kapol was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison by Stearns County Judge Andrew Pearson. Additionally, she was ordered to pay restitution of $12,488.65 for her role in the tragic event.

According to a family member, the victim had been managing pain with prescribed medication after a car accident and sought alternative methods due to difficulties accessing care during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The family believes that the victim mistakenly thought she was consuming Percocet instead of the lethal Perc 30 pill, underscoring the dangers of counterfeit medications in circulation.

In response to the sentencing, the family expressed their hope that such legal actions would serve as a precedent for accountability amidst the fentanyl crisis, emphasizing the need for individuals involved in the illicit distribution of opioids to face consequences for their actions. The devastating impact of fentanyl-laced substances continues to claim lives, highlighting the urgency of addressing this pressing public health issue.