21-Year-Old Convicted in Leander Teen's Fentanyl Murder

Kreli Haynes faces sentencing on April 14 for providing counterfeit pill that killed 16-year-old Zarek McMeekin

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a single counterfeit pill against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A harsh flash photograph of a counterfeit pill at the center of a high-profile fentanyl murder case exposes the deadly realities of the opioid crisis.Leander Today

A Williamson County jury has convicted 21-year-old Kreli Haynes of murder in the 2023 fentanyl-related death of 16-year-old Leander High School student Zarek McMeekin. Prosecutors argued that Haynes supplied a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl that proved fatal to the teen. Haynes is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills leading to overdose deaths, especially among young people. It also reflects Williamson County prosecutors' tougher stance on pursuing murder charges in fentanyl distribution cases that result in fatalities.

The details

Prosecutors say McMeekin was found unresponsive at his home off Socorro Bend on Dec. 10, 2023. Haynes was arrested in March 2024 and has faced related charges including possession and the unlawful carrying of a firearm. In court, prosecutors argued that Haynes supplied a counterfeit pill that contained fentanyl and proved fatal to the Leander teen.

  • On December 10, 2023, Zarek McMeekin was found unresponsive at his home.
  • In March 2024, Kreli Haynes was arrested.
  • On Friday, a Williamson County jury convicted Haynes of murder.
  • Haynes' sentencing is set for Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The players

Kreli Haynes

A 21-year-old man convicted of murder in the fentanyl-related death of a Leander High School student.

Zarek McMeekin

A 16-year-old Leander High School student who died from a fentanyl-laced counterfeit pill.

Sam Bassett

The attorney representing Kreli Haynes.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Though we don't agree with the verdict, we respect the jury's verdict.”

— Sam Bassett, Attorney for Kreli Haynes

What’s next

Kreli Haynes is scheduled to be sentenced at the Williamson County Justice Center on April 14, 2026. The sentencing hearing will determine the next steps in the case.

The takeaway

This conviction highlights the tragic consequences of the fentanyl crisis, especially its impact on young people. It also underscores Williamson County's efforts to aggressively prosecute fentanyl-related deaths as murders, a strategy that has drawn both praise and criticism from advocates and families affected by the opioid epidemic.