ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday that deputies with the ACSO Special Investigations Unit have made their first homicide arrests related to a fentanyl overdose.
Max Arsenault, 32, and Julia Weishaar, 26, have been charged with:
- Manslaughter
- Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl causing death
- Distribution of a controlled substance - fentanyl resulting in death
- Distribution of a controlled substance - methamphetamine
- Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance - methamphetamine
- Distribution of a controlled substance - fentanyl
- Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance - fentanyl
- 2 counts of distribution of a schedule 3 and 4 controlled substance
- 2 counts of conspiracy to distribute a schedule 3 and 4 controlled substance
According to the sheriff's office, the investigation began on May 7, 2023, following the overdose death of 47-year-old Nicholas Dorotik. Deputies responded to a medical call in the 21000 block of East Otero Parkway where Dorotik was unresponsive upon their arrival. South Metro Fire Rescue also responded and administered CPR on Dorotik, according to a media release.
Dorotik's wife had administered a dose of Narcan before first responders arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said. The coroner's toxicology report confirmed Dorotik died as a result of a mixed drug overdose including fentanyl and meth, the sheriff's office said.
After a year-long investigation, arrest warrants for Arsenault and Weishaar were obtained on July 23, 2024, and the two suspects were arrested.
Weishaar is currently at large and wanted by authorities for not showing up for a recent court appearance. Arsenault is out on bond. His next court date is scheduled for Dec. 5.
ACSO is asking if you have any information about Weishaar's whereabout to call the investigations tip line at 720-874-8477.
According to the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office, the county has experienced 88 fentanyl-related deaths this year. It is down from 141 in 2023, where was the highest total since 2019.
