Authorities in Olmsted County say a Minneapolis man has been taken into custody in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that happened more than a year ago in rural Marion Township. Deputies arrested 51-year-old Charles Webster Sr. on Monday, May 18, 2026, on suspicion of murder and drug-sale offenses tied to a March 2025 death that investigators trace back to an alleged fentanyl deal.
Marion Township overdose
On March 13, 2025, Olmsted County deputies were sent to a home in the 3800 block of U.S. Highway 14 East in Marion Township for a medical call. First responders found a man unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy determined the man died from fentanyl, according to the Post Bulletin.
Investigation and arrest
In the months that followed, Olmsted County investigators tracked the source of the drugs back to Minneapolis. Capt. Tim Parkin told local media that 51-year-old Webster was identified as the person who allegedly sold fentanyl to the victim. With help from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, deputies located Webster, arrested him, and transported him to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center on Monday, May 18, according to KROC-AM News.
Charges
Webster is being held on suspicion of third-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and first-degree sale of a controlled substance. At this point, those accusations are still allegations, not proven charges. Local reporting says formal charges are pending while the Olmsted County Attorney's Office reviews the case file and evidence gathered by investigators, as reported by KAAL.
What the charges mean
Under Minnesota law, prosecutors can seek a third-degree murder charge when an unlawful sale of certain controlled substances "proximately causes" someone's death. The statute specifically applies to deaths involving Schedule I or II drugs. The statutory language appears in Minnesota Statutes §609.195, while Minnesota Statutes §152.021 outlines the first-degree controlled-substance offenses, including enhanced penalties tied to larger fentanyl sales.
Broader trend in Olmsted County
The case lands during a stretch of rising overdose deaths in Olmsted County. State data show the county reported 33 drug-overdose deaths in 2023 and 25 in 2024, part of a longer upward trend in fatal drug use. Those figures come from the Minnesota Department of Health's county overdose totals for 2015–2024, documented by the Minnesota Department of Health.
What’s next
Webster remains in custody at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. He is expected to make his first court appearance after the Olmsted County Attorney's Office finishes its review and decides on formal charges. Booking details and a specific court date were not immediately available, according to reporting by KAAL.
