25-04-2025
Two men charged in Newport, N.C. overdose death case
CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — On Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025, two men were charged for the overdose death of an individual in Newport.
Francis Edward Vandevord, 51, and Jamie Allan Rumsey, 50, both of Newport, were charged for the overdose death of Benny Ray Weeks, 62, of Newport. This death investigation started on November 7, 2024, when detectives were called to the home of Weeks after he was found deceased.
Investigation revealed that Vandevoord and Rumsey had acted together to sell Fentanyl to Weeks prior to his death. This led to Vadevoord and Rumsey being charged with the sale and delivery of Fentanyl in December of 2024.
On Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025, the NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released Weeks' official cause of death as Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Toxicity. This led to Rumsey and Vandevoord also being charged with Death by Distribution-Sale on Apr. 23, 2025.
Rumsey is being held in the Onslow County Jail on unrelated charges and will be transferred to Carteret County for a first appearance. Vandevoord had a first appearance in Carteret County's District Court on the morning of Friday, Apr. 25, 2025, for the Death of Distribution charge and is being held at the Carteret County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.
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