How a single overdose in Vermont unraveled an empire of heroin

In August 2012, Ginger Parker called 911 to report that her boyfriend, David Blanchard III, was unresponsive in their Rutland motel room. Despite the operator's attempts to guide her through CPR, medics later declared Blanchard dead, discovering drug paraphernalia linked to heroin use. His death sparked a comprehensive investigation that revealed a vast network of heroin trafficking connecting Rutland to the Bronx. In 2012, Vermont recorded 50 opioid-related fatalities, escalating to 106 by 2016 and doubling again five years later. The investigation aimed to identify the source of the heroin, leading to the arrest of several key players in the drug trade.

The authorities' efforts highlighted the urgent need to address addiction and its devastating effects on communities. As fentanyl became the primary driver of overdose deaths, the challenge of eradicating these drug networks persisted. The case illustrated the interconnectedness of communities grappling with the opioid epidemic across the nation.