Maryland Heights Man Indicted for Providing Fentanyl in Fatal Overdose

A Maryland Heights man is accused of providing the fentanyl that led to the fatal overdose of a mother in St. Charles.  

Federal prosecutors say 37-year-old Valentino Carpenter was indicted Wednesday for possession and distribution of fentanyl.  

The charges say Carpenter sold two capsules containing fentanyl to the victim on June 21st and later warned her not to ingest a whole capsule.   

Investigators say a neighbor heard screams that night from the woman’s children and discovered her dead on a couch.  

The three kids were reportedly alone in a bedroom for nearly 20 hours.  

Police say they found one capsule which tested positive for fentanyl, and Facebook messages in which the victim told Carpenter she wanted to buy the drugs.