In a grim development within the Norco community, a man suspected of supplying a lethal dose of fentanyl that claimed one life has been nabbed for murder, according to official reports. Riverside County authorities have orchestrated the arrest of one Johnnie Stevens, following an intensive investigation into a tragedy that unfolded this past November.

On the morning of November 19, 2023, deputies responded to an emergency call at the corner of Stagecoach Drive and Roundup Road where Jason Schmuch, 40, was found unresponsive and subsequently declared dead at the scene. The initial sweep by law enforcement turned up signs that pointed to an overdose, with a specific spotlight on the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The Riverside Sheriff’s Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit (ODIN) pushed forward the probe, which culminated in the confirmation of Schmuch’s death by fentanyl poisoning, a Riverside County Sheriff's Office statement detailed.

Stevens, originally arrested last November for child endangerment when drugs and paraphernalia were discovered at his residence accessible to his minor daughter, landed back in law enforcement's crosshairs as they continued to delve into Schmuch's death. It was a warrant that ultimately put the suspect in handcuffs for murder on April 24.

This incident has prompted the Riverside County Sheriff's Office to issue a stark reminder to the public about the perils associated with illicit narcotics, fentanyl in particular. Fentanyl's potency, reaching a chilling 100 times that of morphine, makes it a substance capable of snatching lives or delivering serious physical detriment with a scant margin for error. Stevens was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center, with formal charges pressed on April 26, 2024, and authorities continued their investigation. Should individuals have pertinent information, they are encouraged to reach out to Investigator Shaffer at 951–955–1700, the announcement stated.