16 & Pregnant alum Whitney Purvis is facing more legal trouble days after she was released from jail on involuntary manslaughter charges, Us Weekly can exclusively report
On July 23, prosecutors in Floyd County, Georgia, filed a misdemeanor charge against Purvis, 34, for driving while using a cell phone.
Court documents show the charge stems from an encounter Purvis had with police on May 3, 2024. A citation filed by the Rome Georgia Police Department showed Purvis was pulled over in a 2000 Honda Accord for distracted driving.
She was instructed to appear in court months later.
Whitney Purvis Manslaughter Explainer: What Happened to John Mark Harris
The new charge was filed shortly after Purvis was released from Floyd County Correctional Institution. The former reality star had been locked up for two weeks after being arrested on suspicion of felony involuntary manslaughter.
A judge granted Purvis bond in the amount of $15,000. As part of her release, she was ordered not to use drugs or have contact with the alleged victim’s family.
TMZ reported Purvis’ arrest was related to the death of a man named John Mark Harris, who suffered a fatal overdose. The report said law enforcement believes Purvis played a role in Harris receiving the drug Tranq, which is a combination of Fentanyl and another drug.
Prosecutors filed two other drug charges against Purvis related to the situation.
The arrest comes weeks after Purvis’ 16-year-old son, Weston Gosa Jr., died from natural causes.
Whitney Purvis’ Ex Weston Reacts After Her Involuntary Manslaughter Arrest
“Rest in Peace, my baby Weston. I love you forever, precious. I’ll never understand why life has to be so cruel. You’ll always be my baby,” Purvis wrote on social media to announce the tragic news.
As Us previously reported, Purvis accused her ex and son’s father, Weston Gosa Sr., of blocking her from the funeral.
“I’m gonna stand up for myself this time,” Purvis wrote. “Just to clear up some things [that] happened over the weekend, my son’s funeral was this past Saturday. My son’s father told me it was at 4. … You would think with little Weston dying that we could put our differences aside right? Nope. It always has to be drama. You had to be on a list to get into the funeral. Guess who wasn’t on the list? Me and all my friends and family were not allowed to come in.”
Purvis claimed she was told she was not on the list.
Gosa Sr. denied Purvis’ claims and said everyone was told the service started at 2 p.m.
Purvis spoke out on social media about the drama. She called the situation “sad and hopeless.”
Whitney Purvis’ Late Son Weston: Look Back at ‘16 and Pregnant’ Birth
“He deserved better parents — myself included,” she wrote. “I’m not saying I was the perfect parent by any means cause who is?”
Purvis became a household name during the first season of MTV’s 16 & Pregnant, where she gave birth to Gosa Jr.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and/or substance use, you are not alone. Seek immediate intervention — call 911 for medical attention; 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; or 1-800-662-HELP for the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline. Carrying naloxone (Narcan) can help reverse an opioid overdose.
