Suspect in Fatal Ferndale Heroin Overdose Faces Life in Prison

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A Detroit woman appeared in court Thursday on charges that she sold the heroin that resulted in a fatal overdose in Ferndale last April and triggered a massive federal law enforcement sweep along the Woodward Avenue corridor last summer.

Shanna Nicole Santori, 25, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance causing death in Ferndale 43rd District Court. If convicted, Santori could go to prison for life, The Oakland Press reports. She is being held on $250,000 cash bond.

Police said Longhurst and a companion had spent the night gambling at a Detroit casino before meeting up with Santori and others at a Ferndale motel, where they allegedly bought heroin from Santori.

Longhurst and his friend reportedly consumed the drugs in a car, then took a walk. That’s when Longhurst collapsed on the front lawn.

Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said Santori fled the state, but was arrested in Montana and extradited back to Oakland County on Oct. 23.

Ferndale Police Chief Timothy Collins said Longhurst’s death triggered a multi-agency investigation into heroin trafficking that eventually led to the July 21 sweep in several communities along the Woodward Avenue corridor. Search warrants were served at more than a dozen locations.

Twelve people were arrested. Police made 12 arrrests,and confiscated guns and an undisclosed quantity of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Heroin in the Suburbs

• Oakland County Narcotics Team Makes Big Heroin Bust
• Michigan Part of Major Heroin, Opioid Pipeline
• Large-Scale Heroin Raid Taking Place Along Woodward Corridor
• Feds Charge 4 in ‘Killer’ Heroin Linked to 60 Deaths
• Alleged Heroin Gang Hid Behind Rapper Names: Indictment
• Heroin Growing Problem in Affluent Suburbs, Across Michigan
• 3 Overdoses in 7 hours Keep Detectives Racing
• Man OD’s on Heroin Twice in 13 Days: Police