Hartsville man arrested in connection with overdose deaths
William Chad Brown. PHOTO COURTESY DCSO
William Chad Brown, aged 47, faces charges of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and multiple drug violations linked to the deaths of two men from drug overdoses, one in September and the other in December.
The arrest of Brown occurred last Friday, following a thorough investigation, as stated by Hartsville Police Chief Byron Snellgrove. Snellgrove explained, “We had two deaths in Chad’s house over the last year. Both of them were overdoses of illegal drugs. We felt like we had received information that Chad had provided those drugs to the people who had overdosed and died in his house. So, we started looking into it like that. It’s not a coincidence that two people overdose and die at the same location, at the same house. There’s got to be something going on there. And we were able to come up with enough evidence to show, or at least, we believe will show in court that Chad provided the substances to the people that overdosed at his house. And that’s something that we just can’t have here in Hartsville.”
Lesheay Hutchinson identified her 41-year-old brother, Todd Lynn Oliver, as one of the deceased individuals. She expressed the toll his death has taken on her family, stating, “It’s definitely been very hard and trying on all of us since this has happened.”
Regarding the length of the investigation, Hutchinson questioned what might have occurred if Brown had been arrested immediately after her brother’s death in September, saying, “I just wish something would’ve been done sooner. After my brother. If so, then maybe the other guy wouldn’t have lost his life as well. It’s just been a battle and fight just to get justice for something to be done about this.”
Snellgrove acknowledged the family’s frustrations, clarifying that the extensive nature of the investigation necessitated time. He stated, “We have stayed in fairly good contact with the families, I think. And they were obviously frustrated because it was taking so long for us to do it. But, a lot of times it takes as long to get enough evidence to make a charge on things like this. It’s, a hard case to make.”
Hutchinson expressed relief that Brown is being held accountable for her brother’s death and the other victim, saying, “It is finally happening. It’s a very, very great feeling and we are very thankful.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges. Brown is currently detained without bond at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center.
