2 charged after fentanyl overdose death in Troup County in July

TROUP COUNTY, Ga. - The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges in connection with the fatal overdose of Anthony Hall, 44, whose death was linked to fentanyl. The charges stem from an investigation following Hall’s death on July 2, 2024.

At 4:15 p.m. that day, deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive person in the 2700 block of Whitesville Road in LaGrange. Hall was found unconscious inside the residence and transported to Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed.

An autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined Hall died from a fentanyl overdose. Investigators later discovered that William Michael Gross of LaGrange had sold the narcotics to Hall.

On Jan. 6, 2025, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division charged Gross with felony murder and the sale of a Schedule II narcotic. Katie Leane Facille was also charged with the purchase of a Schedule II narcotic in connection with the case.

A new Georgia law went into effect on July 1, 2024, that increases the punishment for drug dealers who illegally distribute fentanyl Under the law, these dealers can now be charged with felony murder. 

The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.