Three Suspects Charged with First-Degree Murder in Fatal Fentanyl Poisoning Case

Seminole Co. Fla. (November 9, 2023) – At a press conference held earlier today, Sheriff Dennis Lemma announced three suspects have been charged with First Degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance for their involvement in the poisoning death of 27-year-old Tristan Buttrum, of Apopka.

The investigation began on January 2, 2023, when deputies responded to Anna Drive in unincorporated Apopka after a roommate discovered Tristan deceased in his bedroom. On the nightstand next to the bed was a counterfeit Percocet pill pressed with fentanyl. Agents with our Fatal S.C.O.R.E. (Seminole Collaborative Opioid Response Efforts) Response Team responded and immediately began probing to determine the source of the fentanyl-pressed pills.

The investigation revealed a web of drug-related crimes that spanned multiple states and involved several individuals. In October, the three drug dealers were indicted by an 18th Judicial Circuit grand jury. On November 7, the following three suspects were arrested and charged with First Degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

  *   Bradley Hunter –D.O.B. 07/25/97, of Kissimmee, incarcerated in the Osceola County Jail
  *   Vincete Diaz –D.O.B. 12/16/2000, of St. Cloud, incarcerated in the Osceola County Jail
  *   Andres Spancky Raya –D.O.B. 11/05/95, of Los Angeles, California, incarcerated in the Los Angeles County Jail

It was determined Hunter and Diaz routinely traveled to California to purchase illegal drugs from Raya and would ship them back to the Central Florida area. Agents learned of one purchase of 40,000 pressed fentanyl pills purchased from Raya in mid-December 2022 alone.

All three suspects will eventually be brought to Seminole County and booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.

In regards to the investigation and arrest, Sheriff Dennis Lemma stated: "The majority of jurisdictions across this country, quite frankly, are still calling these accidental overdoses. Granted, you can overdose on a substance that is legal or illegal. But what we're dealing with here is different because people are taking a substance that has been unknowingly poisoned to the level of lethal doses, and that's exactly why this is a murder case."

The Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, will prosecute this case.