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North Port man accused of selling drugs to woman that resulted in her death

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NORTH PORT, Fla. — A North Port man is accused of killing a 59-year-old female North Port Resident.

An investigation revealed that in June of 2019, Michael Stankus, 47, sold several drugs to the woman, which resulted in her death.

Stankus and the woman exchanged messages to buy and sell the drugs with each other immediately before the woman’s overdose death.

An autopsy and toxicology report revealed her cause of death was an overdose of the drugs diazepam, hydromorphone, and cocaine.

“If you sell drugs in North Port and someone dies as a result of overdosing on those drugs, we will do everything within the law to hold you responsible,” says North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison. “Don’t bring these deadly drugs to our City, which heighten the risk to those vulnerable to addiction.”

More recently, an undercover detective purchased the highly addictive drug Fentanyl from Stankus, which resulted in charges for selling a controlled substance.

Michael Stankus was charged with Manslaughter. (HOMICIDE-NEGLIG MANSL: KILLING HUMAN OTHER THAN BY MURDER OR HOMICIDE).