DURHAM, N.C. — Two North Carolina students died the same week after overdosing on fentanyl-laced cocaine. However, the alleged drug dealer is only being charged for one of their deaths.
WCNC Charlotte first covered this story in October when 19-year-old Grace Burton’s family was pushing for justice. Their attorney said the family wants the alleged dealer and anyone else involved in Burton's death to be criminally charged.
However, new information indicates that 45-year-old Cye Frasier of Durham likely won't face new charges in Burton's case.
Public court documents state Frasier, who police refer to as "The Barber," is responsible for distributing cocaine and fentanyl, resulting in death. Frasier pleaded guilty to those charges tied to the death of a 23-year-old Raleigh student.
However, no one has been charged for Burton's death.
Burton was a Charlotte native and student at UNC-Chapel Hill. Court records state that she died from an accidental overdose while visiting Duke University’s campus in March 2023.
Investigators state in the court files that Burton bought cocaine from Frasier. As did the Raleigh student, who died a day after Burton overdosed.
"Grace is not getting justice for what happened to her," Chris Adkins, the Burton family attorney, said.
Burton’s initial autopsy report stated that fentanyl was in her system, but it was not listed as a cause of death along with the alcohol and cocaine. Adkins asked the state medical examiner to correct that.
"We thought it might encourage the government to charge the defendants with the additional charge, which is essentially kind of like a homicide charge for adding fentanyl," Adkins explained.
The autopsy report was later fixed, but Adkins said despite the changes, federal prosecutors informed him they were not adding any charges.
"My understanding is the federal government did not want to add these additional charges on because [Frasier] would be getting the same sentence anyways, and they would be running concurrently," Adkins said.
Legal expert Gary Mauney, who is not involved in the case, said prosecutors' decisions often come down to resources.
"Every day, prosecutors are having to make choices based on the resources that they have: Money, the number of prosecutors available," Mauney explained.
Mauney added it’s common for cases to go unprosecuted when the suspect has pleaded guilty to other charges.
"As difficult as this may sound to a victim's family, the prosecutor is thinking, 'Really what is the ultimate benefit of prosecuting the drug dealer twice when they're gonna get the same amount of time?'"
Adkins said the Burtons aren’t giving up hope for justice yet. Court documents state that Frasier is facing 20 years to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina declined to comment on the case.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.