PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — A landmark conviction has been established in Placer County as Carson Schewe, 22, was sentenced in the county’s first fentanyl-related murder trial by jury. Schewe was found guilty on Tuesday of second-degree murder following the sale of a fentanyl-laced Percocet pill that led to the December 2021 death of Kade Webb.
The verdict came after a tense period of deliberation, extending over three days and spanning two separate trials; the first was declared a mistrial after complications arose from an independent lab report. This pioneering case marks a bold stance in the county’s combat against the opioid crisis, reflecting a growing judicial consensus on the severity of distributing fentanyl.
David Tellman, Chief Deputy District Attorney for Placer County, expressed that the conviction sends a stern warning to individuals peddling dangerous substances. “This case reaffirms our commitment to prosecuting those who prioritize profits over the wellness and lives of people in our community,” Tellman stated.
For Webb’s family, the trial’s outcome, though painful, provides a platform to advocate against the opioid epidemic. “There’s no closure in losing a child; it feels like a constant replay without end. This isn’t about overcoming our loss but about making sure it wasn’t in vain,” Elizabeth Dillender, Webb’s mother, shared. She highlighted the immeasurable emotional cost, describing her late son as one of her closest confidants.
Transforming their grief into action, the family has initiated “One Pill Can Kill Placer,” a public awareness campaign that facilitates educational sessions in schools across the county. In just two years, the initiative has reached approximately 26,000 students, addressing the lethal risks associated with recreational drug use contaminated with fentanyl.
Kurt Webb, Kade’s father, emphasized the urgency of their mission amid the ongoing crisis. “Every story we hear about someone lost to fentanyl underscores the need for change — for our community’s future and our children’s safety,” he said.
Beyond community outreach, the Webb family is constructing a lasting legacy that their grandson Indigo “Indy” Kade Webb — whom Kade never had the chance to meet — can inherit. Their efforts are aimed at securing a future where no other family endures similar tragedy.
Also rallying to the cause is Kade’s cousin, Logan Webb, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. His public profile aids significantly in amplifying the family’s anti-fentanyl message, extending its influence beyond Placer County.
Carson Schewe is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 5. While this trial is the county’s first jury conviction for a fentanyl-related murder, it follows another notable case last summer where a guilty plea was entered in a similar circumstance — the first of its kind in California.
This conviction not only marks a significant judicial milestone but also reinforces a collective determination to confront a disturbing and deadly aspect of the nationwide opioid crisis. Through continued advocacy and stringent legal repercussions, Placer County seeks to deter the spread of fentanyl and remember those lost to its grip.