Draft:Death Investigation of Mac Miller

• Comment: May be canidate for merging into the main Mac Miller article? Why seperate? Scaledish! Talkish? Statish. 05:07, 20 May 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Lomichael80 (talk) 07:03, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

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Mac Miller Overdose Investigation

On September 7, 2018, Malcolm James McCormick, professionally known as Mac Miller, was found deceased at his Studio City residence. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was mixed drug toxicity involving fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol. Special Agent Tommy S. Fung led the DEA investigation that traced the source of the counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that contributed to Miller's death.

Drug Transactions Leading to the Overdose

According to a sworn affidavit by Special Agent Fung, on the night of September 4–5, 2018, Miller contacted dealer Cameron James Pettit seeking Percocet, Xanax, and cocaine. Pettit agreed to deliver ten pills referred to as "blues" (30mg oxycodone), a "ball" of cocaine, and ten Xanax bars. Digital evidence showed Pettit then contacted Stephen Andrew Walter for ten counterfeit oxycodone pills, who dispatched Ryan Michael Reavis as a courier. Reavis delivered the pills to Pettit, who delivered them to Miller in Koreatown around 2:25 a.m. on September 5, 2018.

In a separate exchange the same night, Pettit's associate Mia Pascal Johansson arranged for a prostitute, identified as Karla Amador (also known as adult actress "Carolina Cortez"), to deliver controlled substances and sexual services to Miller. Amador arrived at Miller's studio with Xanax, Adderall, Norco, and cocaine. Text messages show that Johansson facilitated the delivery and later invoiced Miller for $325 worth of drugs and $3,000 in prostitution services.

Evidence and Laboratory Findings

After Miller's death, law enforcement recovered multiple pills from his residence. Forensic testing confirmed that five blue pills marked "V 48|12" - supplied by Pettit - contained fentanyl. These pills resembled legitimate 30mg oxycodone but were counterfeit. Additional pills recovered from the scene matched those provided by Amador: five pills marked "E|8" (oxycodone), orange "U30" (amphetamine), "G037" (hydrocodone), and rectangular Xanax bars.

Special Agent Fung discovered a magazine in Miller's safe that was dusted with blue powder and bore circular indentations, suggesting that pills had been crushed and snorted. A rolled paper and card were nearby. The presence of fentanyl but not oxycodone in Miller's toxicology report further supported that the crushed and consumed pills were the fentanyl-laced counterfeits.

Postmortem Digital Evidence

After news of Miller's death broke, Pettit messaged an acquaintance: "I am not great... Most likely I will die in jail." He expressed regret and fear about being linked to Miller's overdose and discussed leaving the country. He later admitted that he had sourced the "blues" from "a buddy"— Walter — and had delivered them to Miller two days prior to the fatal overdose.

Continued Sales by Walter

Even after the overdose, Pettit continued to purchase fentanyl-laced pills from Walter. DEA surveillance and search warrants showed that Walter operated out of an apartment on Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles and conducted drug transactions with Pettit and others through couriers like Reavis. Numerous text exchanges revealed ongoing transactions involving fentanyl pills, cocaine, mushrooms, molly, and acid, with pickups arranged at various locations near Walter’s residence.

Arrests and Prosecutions

On August 30, 2019, Special Agent Fung swore out a criminal complaint charging Pettit with distribution of controlled substances resulting in death. On September 4, 2019, Pettit was arrested and his phone seized. Special Agent Fung's subsequent affidavits and forensic analysis of communications contributed to additional charges and arrests of Walter and Reavis.

Walter ultimately pleaded guilty to fentanyl distribution causing death and received a 17.5-year prison sentence. Reavis was sentenced to nearly 11 years. Pettit’s case remains pending.

Impact

The investigation drew national attention as a high-profile example of how counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with fentanyl can result in lethal overdoses. The case underscored the DEA’s strategy to treat overdose deaths as criminal homicides when distribution links can be established. The investigation has been cited as a model for post-overdose investigations using digital forensics, informant development, and interagency coordination.

See Also

• Mac Miller
• Fentanyl
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Opioid epidemic in the United States
• Controlled Substances Act