Fatal Fentanyl Poisoning of a Juvenile - Update 

August 28, 2024 – Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that during the summer of 2023, the Riverside County Sheriff’s ODIN Investigators continued both the investigation and the search for Michael Garcia in connection with this case. The information for his arrest warrant was given to the Riverside District Attorney’s Office Investigations Bureau and the US Marshals Service, who were asked to assist in locating Garcia, who was believed to have fled to Mexico.

Numerous law enforcement agencies were employed to locate Garcia. On August 26, 2024, almost exactly two years since the death of the 17-year-old victim, Garcia was arrested at the US-Mexico border and was booked into custody at the John Benoit Detention Center for unlawfully furnishing a controlled substance to a minor and felony child endangerment.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Sergeant Jim Peters at 951-486-6700 or Investigator Dan Shaffer at 951-955-1700. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics, many of which may contain Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than morphine and can cause death or serious bodily harm.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Sean Liebrand

File # O222330020

Source & photos: Riverside County Sheriff's Office

Related: Desert Hot Springs Man Wanted in Fatal Fentanyl Poisoning of a 17-Year-Old Riverside County Girl