BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington woman has been arrested in the overdose death of her brother earlier this year.
Kurstie Purtlebaugh, 34, is charged with dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. She was arrested Wednesday, more than eight months after her brother, Brian O’Bannon, died of a fentanyl overdose, police said.
According to court documents, O’Bannon’s fiancé used air pods to find him dead inside a car on March 28. The fiancé’s father, as well as Purtlebaugh and her husband were also there when O’Bannon was found.
He was reported missing by his family the day prior.
Court documents state police were told someone had taken drugs out of the car before police arrived, but officers were not able to confirm if that was true.
Police did not find any drugs in the car but did collect O’Bannon’s phone.
In an interview with police, a cousin told investigators Purtlebaugh had sent him Facebook messages a day or two before, asking where O’Bannon was at. The cousin reported Purtlebaugh had admitted to giving O’Bannon “go,” which police labeled as slang for methamphetamine.
When police searched the phone recovered from the phone, they reportedly uncovered several messages between Purtlebaugh and O’Bannon.
On March 25, court documents state, Purtlebaugh texted “I’m on my way to pick up that go for u.”
A little over an hour later, Purtlebaugh texted O’Bannon again, saying “I’m getting yr go now he’s meeting me at vp on the south side and then I’m leaving for Indy.”
According to court documents, the two continued the conversation, eventually discussing where they would meet so he could get it from her. Purtlebaugh was listed as the last phone that O’Bannon had contacted.
Investigators reported they did not find any other text threads about drug activity with anyone other than Purtlebaugh.
On Aug. 6, the Monroe County Coroner ruled O’Bannon died from a Pharmacologic Intoxication of Fentanyl and had tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief and anesthesia, according to the CDC. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl is responsible for the dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths in the U.S.
In 2022, 74,000 drug overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC.
According to court documents, officers contacted Purtlebaugh in August, requesting she come to an interview with police. She reportedly never showed up.
The next month, court documents state Purtlebaugh told officers she knew they had text messages between her and her brother detailing getting drugs but said she did not give him anything.
She reportedly told police would not speak without an attorney.
Purtlebaugh had an initial hearing in court Wednesday, where she entered a of not guilty. She is being held on $4,000 surety bond, according to online court records.
If convicted, Purtlebaugh could face a maximum sentence of 40 years for the a Level 1 felony, according to Indiana sentencing guidelines.
