Accused drug trafficker charged with manslaughter in 2023 Sault overdose death

A Sault Ste. Marie man has been charged with manslaughter and drug trafficking in 2023 fentanyl death of Josh Tauvette.

A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with a fentanyl poisoning death that occurred more than two years ago.

Detectives from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service located and arrested the accused on March 9, in relation to the August 2023 death of Joshua Tauvette.

The investigation began on Aug. 25, 2023, when officers responded to a sudden death in the 100 block of Lasalle Court.

“Around 8:45 a.m., 35-year-old Joshua Tauvette was found deceased next to drug paraphernalia containing a substance later confirmed by Health Canada to be fentanyl,” police said in a release Tuesday.

The police investigation determined that Tauvette had purchased the fentanyl from the accused on Aug. 24, 2023, the day before his body was discovered.

On Dec. 22, 2023, a forensic pathologist determined the victim’s cause of death to be fentanyl intoxication.

The accused now faces charges of manslaughter and trafficking in a schedule I substance.

“While investigations like this are complex and take time, we will continue holding traffickers accountable for the harm they cause,” added Sault police chief Brent Duguay.

The arrest marks the third time since 2023 that a drug poisoning death in the community has resulted in criminal charges.

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

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• Charges laid in Kirkland Lake drug overdose death
• North Bay woman charged with manslaughter in drug overdose death
• Sault families share their grief on Overdose Awareness Day