Whitney Purvis is now facing seven felonies charges— including an upgraded aggravated involuntary manslaughter charge— stemming from the 2025 death of her friend whom prosecutors say Whitney sold a street drug containing fentanyl to that resulted in his death.
On January 9, prosecutors officially pressed the charges against Whitney, who starred on the very first season of 16 and Pregnant in 2009. As The Ashley reported, Whitney was arrested on July 7 for the crimes, and shortly after being released, was arrested again for a violation of her probation. She’s been out of jail on bond since August.
The Ashley can exclusively reveal that, this week, Whitney’s involuntary manslaughter charge was upgraded to the more-serious charge of “aggravated involuntary manslaughter.”
In addition, Whitney is facing four felony charges of “Illegal Use of a Communication Facility” (all with different offense dates, which indicates that Whitney allegedly committed that crime multiple times). She is also being charged with “Sale of Fentanyl” and “Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute,” which are both felony-level charges.
(Whitney has been accused of distributing Tranq— a drug that contains a combination of fentanyl and xylazine— to her friend John Mark Harris, who died in February after taking the drug.)
The General Bill of Indictment— filed on January 9 and obtained by The Ashley— provides more details of the crimes that Whitney allegedly committed in early 2025.
The document claims that on or around January 23, 2025, Whitney used her cellphone to introduce “the idea of a controlled substance to John Mark Harris, discussing its potential effects and pricing, discussing delivery and payment methods, and describing how to ingest said substance by using aluminum foil.”
One week later, the Bill of Indictment claims that Whitney again used her cellphone to discuss selling the substance to him again. Whitney is also accused of “sending a picture verifying delivery of said substance to the residence of John Mark Harris…”
On February 3, 2025, Whitney again allegedly used her cell phone to discuss another sale of the substance and to confirm “she is on the way to deliver said substance to the residence of John Mark Harris.”
She is accused of doing similar sales to him on February 14 and February 16 as well. It is the alleged sale on February 16 that prosecutors say caused John Mark Harris’ death on February 17.
The state of Georgia has been cracking down on fentanyl-related crimes since the passing of Senate Bill 465, aka “Austin’s Law,” in 2024. The bill created a new offense category —felony aggravated involuntary manslaughter— under which drug dealers and distributors can be prosecuted for their role in a person’s death if they are determined to have helped manufacture or sell the deadly fentanyl drug.
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In July, John Mark’s mother Lisa Harris gave an interview to TMZ about Whitney’s arrest.
“She did this, and as a result, my son is dead,” Lisa stated, adding that she had never met Whitney. “[I’m] glad nobody else must go through this because of her actions. The whole thing is so heartbreaking. I feel sorry for her — not because she got arrested, but because her life got to a point of dealing drugs.”
According to court documents obtained by The Ashley, Whitney is set to be arraigned on February 5. She has been declared indigent (aka unable to pay for legal services) and has been appointed a public defender.
The Grand Jurors for the case have been chosen, and a list of witnesses has been filed, including John’s father and members of the Rome, Georgia, police department.
Whitney starred on “16 and Pregnant” Season 1 alongside Teen Mom stars Maci Bookout, Amber Portwood and Catelynn Lowell. Her episode covered her pregnancy with her first son, Weston Jr. (who tragically passed away last year at the age of 16). She was one of only two girls from Season 1 who didn’t go on to appear on ‘Teen Mom.’
The Ashley will continue to update this story when more info is available…
(Photos: MTV; Floyd County Sheriff’s Department, Bartow County Sheriff’s Department, Instagram)
9 Responses
From the information available it seems that the victim was an adult that wasn’t forced or unknowingly took the drug. Everybody should know that taking drugs ist a terrible Idea and that you can die from an overdose. Although I feel sorry for the victim and his loved ones, I think his own bad decision to take drugs were a big factor in his death and he might have bought them from somebody else if not from Whitney, an addict needing to make money. If drug users or their loved ones only put the responsiblity on other people, they will never get clean… Isn’t that part of the 12 steps to Take responsibility for your own actions?
HI!
Recovering Addict here- also a daughter of a father that was an addict and died from a fentanyl overdose (in February 2021). I actually got clean/sober after he passed. You are 100% correct about being responsible for ourselves. While I feel for others that have also lost those they love to an accidental overdose, the person consuming it isn’t being forced to take it and since fentanyl has been around now for a while, the dangers are very well known. I think a lot of /oved ones of those that have passed away, especially parents, want someone to blame and in their eyes it needs to be anyone BUT the actual addict, which is not exactly productive. It somehow makes them feel better if they can pin it on the person that supplied it. Yes, if you told an addict there was fentanyl in the medication they were buying, they would likely not take it. The problem is, many suppliers are getting it from a third, fourth, fifth+ party and truly have no idea what is in what they are selling. Those are a few reasons why I am on the fence about having the suppliers arrested.
I know the person that gave my dad the fatal dose of fentanyl- but my dad knew the risk, and he was buying pills off the street. He KNEW the dangers. So, really, there was no point for us to go after the man that did it, especially after finding out he stopped dealing. The only reason really to go after the supplier, is so they do not continue to give it to other people. That’s it. Having them arrested doesn’t bring the loved one back. It doesn’t change anything. And if there was no demand, there would be no one dealing. In this case, I think Whitney really needs help. She is clearly also an addict and has been. But until she is ready to quit, I think she’s going to keep finding herself in bad places. I’m also not defending her in any way and I don’t think she’s a good person, but she IS sick. In recovery we say that addiction will only have you end up in jails, hospitals, institutions or death. And it’s so true. I’ve lost a handful of people under the age of 45, in the last three years alone to just alcohol. A few others to overdoses. It’s awful.
As a recovering addict, we are 100% responsible for our choices. We know the risk we are taking. And yes, a HUGE part of recovery and within the 12 steps, is accountability and being responsible for our own actions. Again, I miss my dad. I feel for these people that lose those they love- but it starts with the person seeking it out. Unless someone is legit forcing it down their throats or like, injecting someone with it- it starts with that person making a choice. I pray I will hit five years sober in April and will continue to stay sober for the rest of my life and I pray for those still suffering in their addiction and the loved ones they are hurting.
I 100% agree with you except for one thing. In my experience, telling an addict that whatever they are buying has been cut with fentanyl is not a deterrent, it’s almost always a bonus. Yes, addicts know the risks of fentanyl but it’s a much more powerful high than unadulterated heroin or other opioids which makes it highly desirable. Addicts are always looking for a stronger, longer lasting fix. Their brains are so totally hijacked that the risks don’t matter AT ALL. The addition of Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that extends the high is a perfect example of this. Mix that in and you’ve got *greatly* increased overdose potential, not to mention almost an 100% likelihood of developing necrotic wounds on the skin, yet addicted people are injecting it in the thousands. Prosecuting one addict for selling to another is another waste of time and money that doesn’t put a single dent in the real problem. It’s nothing more than a publicity stunt of the “war on drugs.” The drugs are winning the “war” by the way and always will if we continue to believe the solution is to treat people with a life-threatening, complex illness as criminals to be locked away.
Interesting how badly life went for the two that weren’t chosen for TM…..
i hope everyone who immediately defended whitney and attacked weston sr after the death of weston jr without knowing what she’s been up to even this whole time, forever feels ashamed and embarrassed for blindly following this type of persons words
Go check out the Rome,Georgia police department Facebook page,and then go check out Weston Sr’s criminal records. He is no better than Whitney. Wonder if Weston Sr is going to do any jail time for his recent bust??? 🤔
Shoplifting/larceny is very bad. But until he loses custody of his kids, fails to pay child support, is in and out of jail, and gets charged with manslaughter, he is not “just as bad” as Whitney.
who’s the one who had full custody of both his kids and was providing and seeing them everyday though?
Teen mom producers probably kicking themselves for not picking this girl to continue filming with.. perhaps her story would not be this way if cameras were on her all the time.. idk sad, stay away from drugs people