Crestview man charged with homicide over fentanyl overdose

CRESTVIEW, Fla. — A Crestview area resident who allegedly sold fentanyl to a man who later died from an overdose is now charged with homicide resulting from the unlawful distribution of fentanyl.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said it arrested William “Dean” Lively, 58, of Cavalier Drive Wednesday on an active warrant stemming from the victim’s death on November 17, 2021.

Investigators say the victim purchased what he thought was heroin from Lively and later injected it back at his home.

The man’s wife, who had driven him to Lively’s address to purchase the heroin, left to go to a convenience store and returned to find her husband blue and unresponsive, the OCSO said.

According to the OCSO, text messages and phone calls indicate she then contacted Lively, requesting Narcan and help. Lively asked “Is he alright?”

A short time later she allegedly told Lively her husband had died.

An autopsy determined the victim’s death was from accidental acute drug toxicity (fentanyl and alprazolam), the OCSO said.