A Lake Worth woman is facing murder charges after investigators say her friend overdosed while they both were using illegally-obtained substances to get high.
Vicki Sakers, 41, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and delivery of fentanyl. Palm Beach County deputies say she got high with a friend who ended up dying from laced heroin.
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who also leads the Palm Beach County opioid task force, says the task force’s priority to fight the opioid epidemic hasn’t changed and he pointed to drug dealers and corrupt pharmaceutical companies as the targets.
But Aronberg says Florida’s Good Samaritan Act leaves room for enhanced charges. While a person acting in good faith for someone experiencing an overdose is immune from simple drug possession charges, it doesn’t protect them from other charges such as homicide or drug delivery.
“Everything is fact specific. And that’s why it’s hard. Without talking about specific cases to give you a definitive answer,” says Aronberg.
For now, Sakers has no bond on the murder charges and a $100,000 bond on the drug delivery charges. Her next court date hasn’t yet been set.
