Odessa Woman Charged with Murder in Fentanyl Poisoning Case

Nicole Marie Jones accused of selling fentanyl to 22-year-old victim who died from overdose

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Police in Odessa, Texas have arrested a 40-year-old woman named Nicole Marie Jones and charged her with murder in connection with the death of a 22-year-old man who died from a fentanyl overdose last month. Investigators say evidence from the victim's phone showed Jones had previously sold fentanyl to him, and that she was out on bond for prior fentanyl-related arrests at the time of his death.

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing fentanyl crisis in Texas and across the United States, where the powerful synthetic opioid has led to a surge in overdose deaths. It also raises questions about bail reform policies and whether more should be done to keep repeat drug offenders off the streets.

The details

Police were called to a home in Odessa on January 9 where they found the 22-year-old victim unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and an autopsy later determined the cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the victim's phone, which showed evidence that Jones had previously sold fentanyl to him. Jones has a prior history of fentanyl-related arrests and was out on bond at the time of the victim's death.

  • On January 9, 2026, police responded to a call about a death in the 5000 block of Kingston in Odessa.
  • An autopsy later determined the cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication.

The players

Nicole Marie Jones

A 40-year-old Odessa woman who has been charged with murder in connection with the fentanyl poisoning death of a 22-year-old man. Jones has a prior history of fentanyl-related arrests and was out on bond at the time of the victim's death.

The 22-year-old victim

A young man who died from a fentanyl overdose in Odessa, Texas in January 2026.

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What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow Nicole Marie Jones to be released on bail as the case proceeds.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis in Texas and the urgent need for stronger measures to combat the proliferation of this deadly synthetic opioid, including tougher penalties for dealers and improved access to addiction treatment and harm reduction services.