A Liberty Hill man will spend four decades in prison after a Williamson County jury found him guilty of murder in the fentanyl poisoning death of an 18-year-old Cedar Park resident. Jurors convicted Caleb Comer on June 10, and he was sentenced to 40 years on June 12. The victim, Matthew Wright, was found dead inside his Cedar Park home on May 2, 2024.
According to KEYE, Cedar Park detectives determined Comer sold Wright pills that later tested positive for lethal levels of fentanyl. An autopsy confirmed fatal fentanyl in Wright's system, and investigators built a timeline showing the pills were sold just hours before Wright died. Comer, formerly of Liberty Hill, was tried in Williamson County, where the same jury that convicted him handed down the 40-year sentence.
Arrest and charges
Comer was arrested on July 31, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and booked into the Williamson County Jail on a $150,000 bond, according to FOX 7 Austin. Authorities said that at the time of his arrest, he was already out on bond for a 2023 aggravated robbery charge in Travis County. The initial arrest and investigation were documented in August 2024.
Who Matthew Wright was
Wright was 18, recently accepted to Texas State University, and planning to study psychology, the University Star reported. His family told the paper he had struggled with anxiety and depression, but was looking ahead to college. After his death, his relatives began speaking out about fentanyl awareness and education, framing his story as a warning to other families. His death is one of hundreds of fentanyl-related fatalities reported across Texas in the past year. Family members and local organizations have hosted panels and vigils to alert young people to the dangers of counterfeit pills and the risk of fentanyl.
Legal context
Texas law allows prosecutors to seek tougher penalties when the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance results in death. Under Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.141, the punishment for the underlying offense is increased by one degree if death or serious bodily injury occurs, and any enhanced sentence cannot be ordered to run concurrently with other sentences. State and local officials say that enhancement, along with other recent measures, has given prosecutors additional leverage in fentanyl-related cases.
Prosecutors' message
Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon said the verdict and sentence were meant to send a broader signal beyond this single case. “This case sends a clear message to those who distribute illegal drugs, especially those whose actions result in the death of another person, that you will be held accountable,” he said in a statement reported by KEYE. Prosecutors said the 40-year term reflects an ongoing effort in Williamson County to pursue dealers whose actions lead to fatal overdoses.
Where the case leaves the community
In the wake of Wright's death and Comer's sentencing, his family has continued working with local groups to promote awareness about fake pills and access to Narcan. Community leaders say they hope the lengthy sentence will deter would-be dealers while also underscoring the need for prevention and treatment options. The University Star notes that local panels and Texas State University's Narcan distribution program are part of a broader, ongoing push to keep students and teens informed about the risks of fentanyl.
