Two charged with manslaughter in panama city beach fentanyl overdose death

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — Two individuals have been charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred nearly one year ago, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

On July 21, 2024, deputies responded to a Grand Harbor Drive residence after a 911 call reported a possible overdose. The 29-year-old victim was transported to a local hospital but later died from complications related to opiate use.

An investigation led deputies to Sean Daniel Lawrence, 30, who lived nearby. Lawrence admitted during an interview on the day of the incident that he had purchased fentanyl the night before and provided it to the victim.

Investigators later identified Alison Haley Mitchell, 30, as the person who sold the fentanyl to Lawrence. Evidence confirmed that Lawrence had traveled to Mitchell’s residence on Lorento Street on July 20 to buy the drug, which was later used by the victim.

Following months of investigation and coordination with the District 14 Medical Examiner’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, the case was reviewed for prosecution.

Mitchell was arrested on July 14, 2025, in an unrelated drug case and was found in possession of fentanyl. During an interview, she confirmed her involvement in the 2024 incident.

On July 16, both Mitchell and Lawrence were formally charged with manslaughter. They are being held at the Bay County Jail on $1 million bonds.

Authorities say evidence and admissions linked both suspects to the chain of events that led to the victim’s fatal overdose.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.