THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Keian Cormier is now charged with two different murders after investigators say he gave drugs to two men that ultimately killed them.
KPRC 2 has been in contact with family members of the men who died.
They identified them as 21-year-old Samuel Pearson and Tyler Gengo. Pearson’s mother told KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel her Pearson was a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend who is dearly missed by so many.
- SEE OUR FIRST REPORT: Second fentanyl-related murder charge for Montgomery County man
Gengo’s father said he is hoping for justice for his son.
Records show the investigation began in March when authorities say 21-year-old Samuel Pearson was found unresponsive in a home in Willis. Investigators said it was confirmed he died from the toxic effects of fentanyl.
Court records show investigators found text messages that led to the drug exchange. A month later, Tyler Gengo was found unresponsive in a home in Montgomery. He also died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, according to police.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook, beginning in 2019, MOCONET, along with Houston High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), began working to address the trafficking of fentanyl and its correlation with overdose deaths in Montgomery County.
As of September 1, 2023, the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislator passed House Bill 6, which states that a person can be charged with “fentanyl murder” if they supply or distribute fentanyl and it leads to the death of an individual. With the recent change, MOCONET has been able to file this charge with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
MOCONET is a Houston High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force that includes the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Walker County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Texas Department of Public Safety.
Sarah Hall is a director with Montgomery County Overdose Prevention Endeavor, also known as MCOPE. She said she has been fighting for the legislation since her son died of an overdose in 2020.
“I start every morning thinking about him, and you end every night thinking about him. When things like this happen, it really just brings it back to the forefront,” she said.
Hall’s mission is to spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. She said the biggest challenge is getting the word out to kids.
“The whole landscape has changed as far as drugs go at the beginning. Even just say, four years ago, when fentanyl was really coming onto the forefront. Fentanyl was found in, say, four out of every 10 pills than it was five out of every ten and six out of every 10. Now it’s seven or eight out of every 10. And you just have to understand any pill that you get off the street. Now it is fentanyl,” Hall said.