16 and Pregnant alum Whitney Purvis’ ex-boyfriend Weston Gosa has broken his silence after her involuntary manslaughter arrest.
“[I hope it] will be the wake-up call Whitney needs to get the help and recovery she needs,” Gosa told TMZ on Tuesday, July 8. “[My family and I are] deeply sad to hear the news, and our prayers are with the victim’s family. We’re praying justice will be done for the sake of the victim’s family.”
Us Weekly confirmed one day earlier that Purvis, 33, was arrested on charges including felony involuntary manslaughter and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in connection with the recent death of John Mark Harris. TMZ also reported that Purvis allegedly distributed a drug called tranq, which is a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, that led to Harris’ death, which was ruled as an overdose.
Purvis was booked in a Georgia jail on Monday, July 7.
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“Today, DEA Atlanta and local law enforcement arrested Whitney Purvis in Floyd County, GA on charges of involuntary manslaughter due to fentanyl poisoning. This investigation is ongoing,” Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the Atlanta field division, wrote in a statement. “DEA reminds the public that nearly 70 percent of all drug-related deaths involve synthetic opioids, like fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially deadly dose.”
Purvis, who has not publicly addressed the accusations, and Gosa shared son Weston, who died in June. He was 16. (Purvis and Gosa also are parents of son River, while the MTV star is the mom of son Collin, whose father has not been publicly identified.)
“This is so hard to write. My beautiful son Weston has passed away,” Purvis wrote via Facebook last month. “He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don’t understand. Oh, my baby is gone, and I don’t know what to do with myself. He was so perfect. This is really my worst nightmare come true.”
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Purvis continued at the time, “How do you go on in life after losing a child? I’m in disbelief; this cannot be happening. I don’t want it to be real. I would do anything just to hold him. Words just can’t describe the pain I am feeling.”
She later claimed that Gosa barred her from attending Weston’s funeral, which he denied while speaking with TMZ on Tuesday.
“We want to make it very clear we have documented medical records to show that our son was seeing his doctors and getting his medication daily,” Gosa claimed. “The accusations she has made are disgusting and sad.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
