William Wills, 31, of Indianapolis, received a 26-year sentence for his role in the fatal overdose of Travis Barnes in Boone County. Prosecutors said 22 years will be served in state prison, with 4 years through work release afterward.
Through a plea agreement, Wills admitted selling heroin and fentanyl to Barnes on Sept. 1, 2023, one day before Barnes was found dead inside his Boone County home. The case now stands as a direct warning from prosecutors about fatal overdose cases.
The plea agreement was filed on May 7, with Wills admitting to dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. That plea tied the sale of heroin and fentanyl to Barnes’ overdose, giving prosecutors a direct accountability path.
An autopsy found Barnes died from the combined presence of alprazolam, fentanyl, and morphine. His manner of death was ruled an accident, but the criminal case focused on the source of the drugs and whether Wills’ sale helped lead to that fatal outcome.
Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood warned that dealers face severe consequences when illegal drugs result in death. “We will find you, we will prosecute you, and you will spend decades in prison,” he said, making the sentence a clear public warning.
Investigators reported finding drug paraphernalia, alprazolam pills, and an ATM receipt covered in powder residue in the bathroom near Barnes’ body. That receipt became important because it gave detectives a concrete lead, not just a scene with drugs and unanswered questions.
The receipt led investigators to an ATM about a half mile from Wills’ home, where Barnes reportedly withdrew money for heroin and fentanyl. That kind of location evidence matters because it can place the money, the buyer, and the alleged seller closer together.
Detectives also analyzed Barnes’ cell phone and found evidence that he had purchased narcotics from Wills the day before his death. During an interview, Wills denied selling Barnes cocaine and said the powder near Barnes was “baking soda,” according to court documents.
A search warrant at Wills’ Indianapolis apartment added more weight to the case. Investigators reported finding nearly 26 grams of suspected fentanyl, another 1.3 grams on a plate with razor blades, several digital scales, multiple cell phones, and suspected marijuana.
Authorities also reported finding a loaded Glock magazine, .380 auto ammunition, shotgun ammunition, and an American Tactical shotgun. A blender containing suspended fentanyl stood out because it suggested processing activity, not just drugs sitting in a room without context.
Karen Blanton, a co-defendant accused of selling alprazolam to Barnes, had her case dismissed after she died in custody. Prosecutors also pointed to Wills’ prior convictions, including narcotic drug possession, cocaine possession, and other drug-related offenses.
Debate around fatal overdose prosecutions in Indiana often centers on whether long sentences can deter dealers after a death has already happened. Wills’ 26-year sentence answers that debate firmly, with 22 years in state prison and 4 years in work release.
What comes next is Wills serving that sentence while future cases watch the evidence trail closely. His record includes narcotic possession in 2012, another possession conviction with resisting and a handgun charge in 2018, cocaine possession in 2019, and later drug convictions.