Fatal Overdose In Sarasota Leads To Murder Arrest For Alleged Drug Supplier

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL – A Sarasota County resident on Wednesday was arrested on murder charges for the drug-related death of a man, who was found dead in a roadway in March, officials said.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Francis Michels II, 38 of Englewood, after detectives allegedly connected him with the death of the 41-year-old reportedly caused by Carfentanil, an opioid derivative 10,000 times more potent than morphine, the agency said.

The victim, Joey Wayne Hallmark, 41, was found in the residential area of Egerton Circle and Wexford Lane in Sarasota, on the morning of March 28, and found face down and deceased on the side of the road, deputies said.

Detectives said, based on surveillance videos and interviews with Hallmark's girlfriend, that on that date at approximately 12:30 a.m. the victim headed to buy groceries at a 7-Eleven on Clark Road. Hallmark was reportedly seen chatting with Michels in the check-out line, and later putting gas in Michels' vehicle before the two drove off together, files said.

Reportedly in an April 6 interview with law enforcement, Michels told authorities he did, indeed, meet Hallmark, a stranger, in line at the convenience store at roughly 2 a.m.. Detectives said the suspect then supplied the victim with the drugs prior to his death.

Hallmark's body was reportedly found at approximately 7:20 a.m.

“This arrest is directly in line with our pragmatic four-pronged approach which begins with enforcement,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “Dealers who prey on those battling substance abuse, will continue to be identified, targeted, and arrested, so that they know this criminal behavior is not tolerated in Sarasota County.”

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--Image via SCSO