7 hours ago
Johnson City man convicted in 2021 overdose death
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Johnson City man has been convicted of murder in connection to another man's overdose death.
A jury convicted Austin Forkpa of second-degree murder, sale of methamphetamine, and sale of fentanyl, according to a release by the district attorney's office.
Forkpa was charged following the death of 20-year-old Bueford Patton III, who was found unresponsive by friends on Sept. 18, 2021.
JCPD: Man facing attempted rape, indecent exposure charges
According to the release, an investigation by Johnson City police revealed that Patton and two friends were attending a bachelor party when they obtained narcotics from Forkpa, who told them the drugs were Percocet and MDMA, or ecstasy.
'Unknown to the young men, Mr. Forkpa actually sold them fentanyl and methamphetamine,' the district attorney's office said.
On June 4, the third day of the trial, the jury convicted Forkpa on all counts.
The second-degree murder conviction carries a 15-25 year prison sentence at 100%, according to the release. Forkpa also faces 12-20 years at 35% for the sale of methamphetamine and 6-10 years for the sale of fentanyl.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
