North Texas man gets life in first Tarrant County murder trial conviction under fentanyl law
A North Texas man on Wednesday became the first person in Tarrant County to be tried and convicted of murder under Texas' new law targeting fatal fentanyl distribution.
Jacob Lindsay, 48, was sentenced to life in prison for the death of 26-year-old Brandon Harrison, who died of a fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose on Sept. 18, 2023, in Fort Worth.
Victim's father reacts
"This sends a message to all the Jacob Lindsays out there," said Richard Harrison, the victim's father. "If you sell fentanyl and someone dies, you are going to forfeit your right to live among us for the rest of your life."
The new Texas statute, which took effect Sept. 1, 2023, allows murder charges for individuals who supply fentanyl that results in death.
Father says dealer targeted son
Speaking with CBS News Texas, Harrison said his son had been trying to stay sober and had not reached out to Lindsay. Instead, he said, Lindsay persistently contacted Brandon.
"He never reached back out to Jacob Lindsay," Richard Harrison said. "It was Jacob Lindsay who kept going, 'Hey man, I thought we were going to hook up.' 'Hey, I got some stuff.' And kept on. And finally Brandon, being an addict, answered him. And that's when he took him the deadly Percocets that killed him."
Fentanyl unit treated case like homicide
Lindsay's arrest was the result of an investigation by the Fort Worth Police Department's fentanyl unit, a relatively new team that approaches overdose cases like homicides.
"They jumped right on this, wouldn't let it go," Richard Harrison said. "Did it all by the book."
Prosecutors said Lindsay had hundreds of customers in Tarrant County and a criminal history spanning more than 15 years.
DA vows aggressive prosecutions
"This conviction and sentence send a clear and powerful message," Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said in a statement. "If you manufacture or distribute fentanyl that causes the death of another person, we will charge you with murder. We are committed to getting this poison off our streets."
Fentanyl's deadly potency explained
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is often illegally manufactured and sold due to its strength and low cost. As little as two milligrams — the equivalent of a few grains of salt — can be deadly.
Sorrells said the conviction reflects the mission of the Narcotics Prosecution Unit, which he established in 2023 to focus on fentanyl-related and other high-impact drug offenses.
Previous case led to 19-year sentence
Although Lindsay is the first person in Tarrant County to stand trial under the new law, the first individual sentenced under it was Kaeden Farish, a 19-year-old from Azle. Farish pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2024, to murder after selling fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 17-year-old. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
Father continues to grieve son lost to fentanyl
Meanwhile, Richard Harrison said he hopes the life sentence handed down to Jacob Lindsay sends a message to drug dealers and helps prevent other families from experiencing similar loss.
"I wake up in the morning, realize my son is dead, grieve, park the pain," Harrison said. "I go to work, put on a fake smile, do what I have to do to make it through the day, then pick it up on the way home. And that's what life is like."
Despite the conviction, Harrison said he recognizes the pain extends beyond his own family. After the trial, he visited Lindsay's mother.
"She blames herself, I'm sure," he said. "Even though we got a life sentence and a murder conviction, I still lost my son. And there's no winners."
