One morning in January, police and paramedics responded to a gas station to help an unresponsive man behind the wheel of a car parked at a gas pump. He died later that day.
Six months later, Tampa police have arrested a woman who is accused of selling the man at least one drug that contributed to his overdose death.
Police on Friday arrested Melissa Ann McCarthy of Tampa on a charge of first-degree murder resulting from the unlawful distribution of fentanyl in connection to the death of Christopher A. Drew, 35.
In early June, the Hillsborough Medical Examiner determined that a combination of fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl — a synthetic analog to fentanyl — and cocaine caused Drew’s death. The medical examiner told investigators that none of the drugs were at a level high enough to cause an overdose on their own but that “the combination of all three is what led to his death,” the report states.
A series of texts between McCarthy and Drew on the morning of his death indicates she might have inadvertently sold him the “wrong” drug.
Tampa police and paramedics were called to a Shell station on Parkedge Drive, off East Fletcher Avenue, shortly after 9 a.m. on Jan. 30 and found Drew unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators found a baggie with a small amount of powdered substance that a field test showed was cocaine. Detectives sent the powder to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further testing.
Searching Drew’s phone after his death, investigators found a contact that turned out to be McCarthy’s number and series of text exchanges dating back to December 2025 that were “consistent with drug transactions,” including conversations about amounts, cost and “powder,” according to the arrest report.
Powder is typically slang for cocaine or heroin, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On Jan. 29, the evening before his death, Drew reached out to McCarthy, who responded by asking if he wants “the usual,” the report states. Drew confirmed that he did.
At 3:11 the next morning, McCarthy texted Drew to say she was on her way to him and at 4:34 texted that she was “here.”
At 5:13 a.m., Drew sent a McCarthy a text; “This is weird lol bt I nva did any that was grey lol.”
“The powder is grey?” McCarthy responded.
“Yes lol like compressed grey like cat litter lol,” Drew texted, then sent more texts saying it tasted “sweet weird” and that he felt “weird.”
Drew then sent a photo of an off-white powder on a black background.
“Sorry its weird for you,” McCarthy texted at 5:35. “I was doing the same stuff. I can’t taste so I really didn’t taste anything.”
At 5:58 a.m., according to the report, McCarthy texted: “Don’t do anymore. He gave me the wrong sh-t.”
A minute later, McCarthy called Drew and they spoke for about three and a half minutes.
Drew was discovered at the gas pump at 9:18 a.m.
At 10:15 a.m., McCarthy texted Drew again.
“Hey .. Checking on you … are you ok??” the text said. “Tell me the truth!!! I’m so so so so sorry Chris. I tried texting you as soon as he called me and figured out what he had done.”
Investigators learned that an email account McCarthy had sent Drew was linked to a bank account that allowed her to receive payment for the drugs, the report states. Phone records showed McCarthy and Drew’s cell phones came together at the same time McCarthy texted that she was “here.”
McCarthy declined to give a statement to detectives.
The state testing confirmed the substance in the baggie found in Drew’s pocket was cocaine.
“Based on the text communication, cell site data, and evidence recovered, it was confirmed that the defendant provided the narcotics and received payment from the victim, which led to his fatal overdose,” the arrest report states.
Even if prosecutors can’t prove the fentanyl sale, McCarthy still faces a capital felony charge and life in prison or the death penalty. That’s because the Florida law that allows prosecutors to charge suspected drug sellers with murder includes cocaine if it “is proven to have caused, or is proven to have been a substantial factor in producing, the death of the user.”
McCarthy’s defense attorney, Bjorn Brunvand, has entered anot guilty plea her behalf.
Brunvand said McCarthy “has had some struggles but comes from a good family.” He said he was still reviewing the state’s evidence.
“Just keep an open mind, and keep the presumption of innocence in mind, until we can fully explore everything,” Brunvand said.
McCarthy is also charged with unlawful use of a two-way communication device. She was being held Thursday without bond in Hillsborough’s Falkenburg Road Jail. Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to keep her in custody until her case is resolved.
At the time of her arrest last week, McCarthy was out on bond for a previous arrest on charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, records show.