Kansas prosecutors seek rare murder charge in fentanyl overdose death of 15-year-old
A 19-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a January 2023 fentanyl overdose death of a 15-year-old Lansing teen.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation secured an arrest warrant for Torin Baughman of Lansing on suspicion of first-degree murder, or in the alternative distribution of a controlled substance causing death and aggravated endangering of a child.
Nicholas Burris, known as “Cruz” by his loved ones, was found dead in his home Jan. 18, 2023. He swallowed a pill he believed to be Percocet that he bought through a dealer on Snapchat, unaware it was laced with fentanyl. His parents found him the next morning.
Lansing police requested KBI’s assistance in the investigation. Baughman was booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on Wednesday for his suspected involvement in the distribution of the drugs and Cruz’s death.
Baughman’s bond was set at $500,000. According to KBI, Leavenworth County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to prosecute the case.
A rare charge
It’s rare for a fentanyl overdose death to lead to any criminal charges, The Star found in a months-long investigation into fentanyl, Deadly Dose. Of more than 850 deaths in the Kansas City area since 2018, only a small fraction of them ever even made it to a prosecutor’s desk.
A crucial part of cracking down on fentanyl, families and officials agree, is identifying and prosecuting those responsible for distributing the synthetic opioid.
Burris’ parents previously told The Star that they had found out who sold the pill to their son hours after his death in January 2023. They knew where the young man lived and told everything to the police.
“We were told we didn’t have enough information,” Rhonda Burris said.
Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said several agencies, including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and county authorities, contributed to the case and “no one ever gave up.”
On Thursday, Thompson told The Star that cases like this one can take time.
“But when they finally can present a case, we’ll put it forward,” Thompson said, “and see how a jury decides or how it gets resolved.
“At this point we believe we can file a case.”
Read more about fentanyl around Kansas City
Fentanyl has killed more than 850 in KC area. Here are the stories of 26 lives cut short
‘It’s wiping our youth out.’ How fentanyl has killed hundreds in the Kansas City area
Fentanyl’s littlest victims: Dozens of babies, toddlers die in Missouri and Kansas
Download and print The Star’s guide to preventing fentanyl deaths around Kansas City
The Star’s Jenna Thompson contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM.
