DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — A Davidson County jury has found a High Point man guilty in connection with the 2024 fentanyl overdose death of a Davidson County mother and the death of her 7-month-old daughter, concluding a week-long trial in Superior Court.
Jurors on Tuesday found 37-year-old Donta Williams guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The verdict stemmed from the June 2024 deaths of 31-year-old Katharine Ellen and her infant daughter.
According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence in June 2024 after receiving a report of a suspected overdose. They found Ellen and her 7-month-old daughter dead inside the home.
An autopsy determined Ellen died from fentanyl toxicity. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the infant died from dehydration after being left without care following her mother’s death. Investigators determined Ellen was the child’s sole caregiver.
Authorities said the investigation identified Williams as the person who sold the fentanyl that caused Ellen’s fatal overdose. A Davidson County grand jury later indicted him in connection with both deaths.
Following the guilty verdict, Williams was sentenced to an active prison term of 199 to 260 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said the case highlights the continuing impact of fentanyl on families and communities, noting that the sale of the drug led to the deaths of both a young mother and her infant child.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked the High Point Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation for assisting with the investigation. The agency also recognized the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case, Superior Court Judge W. Stetzer for presiding over the trial, and the jurors for their service.
