Whitney Purvis, star of 16 & Pregnant, was arrested for involuntary manslaughter just weeks after her 16-year-old son tragically passed away.
Whitney Purvis, best known for her stint on MTV’s 16 & Pregnant, was arrested on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Floyd County, Georgia, on a felony involuntary manslaughter charge.
According to online records, deputies allege she knowingly distributed “Tranq,” a dangerous blend of fentanyl and xylazine, which led to the fatal overdose of 32-year-old John Mark Harris.
In addition to the manslaughter count, Purvis faces two other controlled-substance charges, including possession with intent to distribute.
This arrest comes scarcely five weeks after Purvis endured the most devastating loss of her life: the unexpected passing of her 16-year-old son, Weston, on June 2, 2025.
In a heartfelt interview with PEOPLE, Purvis revealed that Weston battled multiple chronic illnesses—Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Addison’s disease, and diabetes—conditions that took a profound toll on him both physically and emotionally.
She described how difficult it was for him to accept his diabetes diagnosis, and how his unwavering resilience made her prouder than ever to be his mom.
Despite his brave fight, Weston was found unresponsive in the family’s home early on June 2.
Emergency responders and family members attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
An autopsy is pending to determine the precise cause of death. Purvis commemorated her son on social media, writing, “My beautiful son Weston, you were only 16.
Life is so cruel and unfair—I don’t understand how to go on without you.” Her outpouring of grief resonated nationwide, with fans and fellow reality stars sending messages of love and donating to a Spotfund to cover funeral expenses.
Purvis’s legal history has been checkered: she’s been arrested three times prior for minor offenses—shoplifting a pregnancy test, property damage, and failure to pay child support—none of which carried the gravity of her current charges.
As she remains in custody, Whitney’s representatives have yet to comment publicly on the overdose allegations.
This story is still unfolding. What do you think about Whitney Purvis’s arrest and the heartbreaking context surrounding her life right now? Share your thoughts below.
