On a quiet morning in January, tragedy struck in the city of Eastvale when 19-year-old Kailey Pearson was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and launched an in-depth investigation that pointed toward a dangerous trend in the proliferation of illicit substances, a reminder of the stark reality of the drug epidemic facing our communities.
Following an intensive look into Pearson’s untimely death, carried out by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit (ODIN), the grim result revealed the involvement of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than morphine, coupled with xylazine. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that “Pearson died as a result of fentanyl and xylazine poisoning,” in a somber announcement issued to the public. The subsequent arrest of Angelina Judena Ortega, 25, marked a pivotal moment in an ongoing battle against the tide of fentanyl entering our streets.
According to a detailed report from the Sheriff’s Office provided on their website, Ortega, also from Eastvale, was apprehended by ODIN personnel on September 5 and was booked on accusations connected to Pearson’s death. Only days later, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office escalated the situation by filing formal murder charges against her…