4 bodies found in Goldsboro raises concerns about fentanyl
Police officers found another body Monday in Goldsboro.
According to the Goldsboro Police Department, officers responded to a call for a possible body found in the 600 block of Isler Street. When officers arrived, they located a dead woman inside a home.
Authorities later identified the woman as Eboni Marie Jackson, 47, of Goldsboro.
The investigation is ongoing, but officers do not suspect foul play is involved in Jackson’s death.
Fourth body found in four days
This is the fourth body found in the city in the past four days. Authorities discovered the other three bodies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, authorities found the body of Richard Lane. Then on Saturday and Sunday, they found the bodies of Billy Saunders and Shawnell Alves.
The family of Alves said they asked for the public's help to find her on Friday after she didn't answer her phone.
"I knew when I couldn't get a hold of her on the phone, and she wasn't picking up for me, that something is not right," her sister, Kayleen Fisher, said.
The Goldsboro Police Department put out a Facebook post that overdose deaths related to tainted drugs were on the rise in the city.
"In recent days, our community has seen a rise in overdoses and deaths related to tainted drugs," the Facebook post said. "Substances like heroin and methamphetamine are being laced with potent and dangerous additives, such as fentanyl, putting users at a higher risk of overdose and death."
Police said they are looking into the possibility that fentanyl contributed to the four deaths, but they have not confirmed any connection.
"There are similarities between the four deaths, and that is the reason I felt the need to put out the PSA. It’s unknown at this time if any drugs collected at the scene of each location, if any, is laced," the Goldsboro police chief said in a statement. "That is part of the ongoing investigations, and it’s too soon to say."
The cause of death has not yet been determined in any of the four deaths.
Alves' family is now left with images and memories of the mother of six, who they said brightened everyone's day. The family started a GoFundMe, while they push for resources for people battling addiction.
"A lot of people struggle with addiction," Fisher said. "Her passing can draw awareness."
If you would like to help the Alves family, visit GoFundMe.com.
