A Ravenswood woman was arrested last week for allegedly selling a powerful narcotic that nearly caused one person’s death. 

Wanda Palmer, 38, of Ravenswood was charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance for allegedly selling the narcotic Fentanyl to a person who later overdosed. 

According to the complaint filed in Magistrate Court by investigating officer Dep. G.D. Baldwin of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, at approximately 10:21 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, Jackson County 911 received a call regarding a drug overdose at a residence in Cottageville. 

Baldwin responded to the scene along with Cpl. Roger Rhodes of the Sheriff’s Department, Sgt. S.E. Wolfe of the West Virginia State Police and first responders from the Cottageville Fire Department. 

When they arrived, they were advised by a friend that the victim had overdosed from smoking a Fentanyl patch, passed out and had difficulty breathing.

Fentanyl, classified as a Schedule II narcotic, is a powerful opioid analgesic with a potency approximately 81 times that of morphine.

First responders performed CPR until an ambulance arrived to transport the victim to Jackson General Hospital, where he later recovered. 

A search of the residence turned up the unused portion of the Fentanyl patch as well as the aluminum foil that was used to smoke the patch. 

In an interview with the victim’s friend, he allegedly told Baldwin and Lt. A.J. Boggs of the Sheriff’s Department that earlier in the evening, he called several individuals, including Palmer, in an attempt to locate several narcotics available for purchase. 

After a period of time, Palmer phoned back to advise him that she had a “sticker,” a slang term for a Fentanyl patch.  The victim’s friend then allegedly traveled to Palmer’s residence on Flatwoods Road, where he purchased the patch for $75. 

Upon completing the interview, Baldwin obtained a warrant for Palmer’s arrest. 

Palmer was arraigned before Magistrate Jackie Casto on one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance.  Casto set bond at $250,000 in the case. 

Palmer remains incarcerated at South Central Regional Jail in lieu of bond. 

Local law enforcement advise that prescription drug abuse has been on the rise recently in Jackson County, and the abuse of the drug Fentanyl has proved especially fatal. 

They encourage anyone who has witnessed or has knowledge of any suspicious or illegal activity to contact the Jackson County Sheriff Department’s automated, anonymous tip-line at (304) 373-2209.