17-05-2025
Blankenship fentanyl murder trial stays in Wichita County
WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — The upcoming murder trial of a man accused of selling counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl that killed a 20-year-old Wichita Falls woman will not be moving from Wichita County.
That's after today's change of venue hearing in the 78th District Court.
In late August 2022, Jakob Joel Blankenship was arrested for the death of 20-year-old Zoe Brewer in April of that year.
He was 19 at the time.
During the Friday, May 16 hearing, Blankenship's defense called witnesses to the stand, including attorney Jim Rasmussen, who testified that they do not believe Blankenship can get a fair trial in Wichita County due to media coverage.
The defense also argued a fentanyl campaign on local billboards would influence potential jurors. In the end, Judge Meredith Kennedy ruled.
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