Webb County District Attorney’s Office Announces First Fentanyl Murder Indictment Under New State Law
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Feb 7, 2025, 0 Comments
Courtesy Brigette Garay,
(Laredo, Texas)-On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, Melanie Ashley Villarreal was indicted by a Webb County grand jury for the murder of Juan Miguel Esquivel on September 15, 2023 by delivering fentanyl to him at her house.
The state-federal fentanyl overdose task force that the District Attorney’s Office is part of conducted the investigation leading to the indictment. This is the first prosecution brought under the new state law that classifies the delivery of fentanyl leading to the death of an individual as murder.
Villarreal’s case is pending as cause no. 2025CRB000039D2 in the 111th District Court before the Hon. Monica Z. Notzon. An arraignment date has not yet been set. Villarreal is currently serving two concurrent ten-year sentences for possession of fentanyl and possession of cocaine out of the 406th District Court.
Assistant District Attorney Albrecht C. Riepen is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Texas and District Attorney Isidro R. Alaniz.
