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| William Benjamin Newton Jr. / PCSO |
Polk County Fentanyl Dealer Indicted for First-Degree Murder in Fatal Overdose Case
News Brief
- Polk County fentanyl dealer indicted on a First-Degree Murder charge
- Victim died from acute fentanyl and carfentanil toxicity
- Drug transaction allegedly captured on surveillance video
- Investigators say the dealer sold fentanyl to the victim hours before his death
- Suspect was later arrested with more than 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl
- Grand Jury returned the murder indictment on May 14, 2026
By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published May 29th, 2026
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 39-year-old Dundee man accused of trafficking fentanyl has now been indicted on a First-Degree Murder charge following a Polk County Sheriff's Office investigation into a fatal overdose that claimed the life of a Davenport man last year.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Organized Crime Unit, William Benjamin Newton Jr. allegedly sold fentanyl to 55-year-old Terry Morris during a transaction that occurred on December 14, 2025, at approximately 12:37 a.m.
Detectives say the drug transaction was captured on surveillance cameras outside the Block Hotel in Winter Haven.
Just one day later, on December 15, 2025, deputies responded to a residence on Adair Road in Davenport, where Terry Morris was found deceased inside his home.
Investigators discovered multiple hypodermic needles and a quantity of white powder that tested positive for fentanylnear Morris' body.
The Medical Examiner's Office later determined Morris died from acute fentanyl and carfentanil toxicity.
According to investigators, Morris had previously provided detectives with information linking Newton to fentanyl sales.
Just over a month before his death, Morris had been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on charges of possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. During that investigation, Morris reportedly told detectives that he purchased his fentanyl from William Newton.
The investigation into Morris' overdose death continued for several months.
On January 11, 2026, detectives executed a search warrant at a hotel in Dundee, where Newton was located and arrested. During the operation, investigators recovered multiple illegal narcotics, including more than 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl.
Authorities said Newton was already facing numerous felony drug trafficking and possession charges when the murder investigation was presented to a grand jury.
On May 14, 2026, a Polk County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Newton with First-Degree Murder, a capital felony under Florida law.
Sheriff Grady Judd praised the work of detectives and prosecutors involved in the case.
"William Newton is where he needs to be—locked up and away from the community. He was already facing numerous felonies for various drug trafficking and possession charges, but thanks to the excellent efforts by my detectives and the State Attorney's Office, Newton is now facing a first-degree murder charge which will hopefully keep him off the streets for the rest of his life."
The case remains active as it moves through the court system.
Searchable News Tags
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Grady Judd, fentanyl dealer indicted, fentanyl murder case, William Benjamin Newton Jr, Terry Morris, Davenport Florida, Dundee Florida, Winter Haven Florida, fentanyl overdose death, carfentanil toxicity, First Degree Murder, fentanyl trafficking, overdose investigation, Organized Crime Unit, Polk County crime news, Florida drug trafficking, Grand Jury indictment, fatal overdose, fentanyl arrest
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