Suspect Charged With Murder For Woman's Fentanyl Overdose Death

The preliminary hearing for a man suspected in the fentanyl-related death of an Oklahoma City woman has been set for May 19th.

Justin Lastra, 49, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kathryn Manning. The 32-year-old woman was found unresponsive at a northwest Oklahoma City home last April.

Police said Lastra’s case was one of two recent fentanyl-related death cases the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Street Narcotics Unit was instrumental in prosecuting.

The investigation into the death of 32-year-old Kathryn Manning started last April at a northwest Oklahoma City home. Manning's roommates found her unresponsive on a bed. Narcan was used on the victim and they started CPR. 

“Members of our street narcotics unit had been called to the scene to investigate being this was possibly related to drug or narcotic usage,” said Sgt. Dillon Quirk, Oklahoma City Police Department.

Manning died an hour after arriving at St. Anthony Hospital. Police said Manning was one of 118 Oklahoma City residents to die by Fentanyl overdose last year. The department's Chief of Police said that statistic was the reason they started a specialized unit to investigate. 

“They go out and try to help those families through the process of losing their loved one,” said Chief Wade Gourley, Oklahoma City Police Department. “But then try to track down that dealer and find where the fentanyl is coming from.”

Through months of investigation the street narcotic's unit tracked down the alleged dealer who sold Manning $20 worth of fentanyl. Court documents revealed Manning and her two roommates met Lastra at the Hemp Inn on south I-35. Investigators confirmed the details through phone records and video surveillance.

During an interview, Lastra admitted to police he was a fentanyl dealer and sold the drug to Manning and her roommates. Lastra also told investigators he knew the drug was lethal. Police found large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Lastra's car.

“Ultimately the investigators were able to connect that suspect to that victim’s death to present charges of murder and also distribution,” said Quirk.

Investigators said the state medical examiner listed Manning’s cause of death as “Acute Fentanyl Toxicity.”