Whitney Purvis, known for her appearance on the first season of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant in 2009, has been arrested in Georgia and is facing serious criminal charges.
Now 33 years old, Purvis has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and two additional counts related to the distribution of controlled substances. She is currently being held without bond at the Floyd County Jail in Rome, Georgia.
According to arrest records, Purvis is accused of distributing a deadly drug mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer often referred to as “Tranq.” Authorities allege that the combination led to the overdose death of a man named John Mark Harris in February of this year.
The arrest marks another tragic chapter in what has already been a deeply painful period in Purvis’s personal life. Just last month, she suffered the devastating loss of her teenage son, Weston Jr., who passed away from natural causes.
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Weston Jr. was the child Purvis was pregnant with during her time on 16 and Pregnant. At the time of his death, he was living with his father, Weston Gosa. Following the tragedy, Purvis took to Facebook on June 2, expressing frustration and heartbreak, claiming her son had not received adequate medical care despite suffering from several serious conditions, including diabetes, Addison’s disease, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Gosa, however, has publicly denied those allegations.
Later that same month, Purvis revealed another personal loss—the passing of her grandmother. In a social media post, she described the emotional weight of losing two close family members within such a short span.
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“Losing both of you within 6 months of each other feels like torture,” she wrote in a deeply personal message. Her grandmother had played a significant role in her upbringing and was featured prominently in her 16 and Pregnant episode.
Following her arrest, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed its involvement in the case. Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division issued a statement.
“Today, DEA Atlanta and local law enforcement arrested Whitney Purvis in Floyd County, GA, on charges of involuntary manslaughter due to fentanyl poisoning. This investigation is ongoing,” Chung said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. The investigation continues as Purvis remains in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
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