HERNANDO COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) says a Pasco County man was charged with first-degree murder for the death of another involving fentanyl.
After several months of investigating, authorities arrested 38-year-old Aaron Christian Clark for selling fentanyl to a man who overdosed and died.
The sheriff’s office says on June 30, 2023, deputies responded to a home located on Sunshine Grove Road. They say Robert Scott Fowler was found by a relative lying on the bedroom floor unresponsive. Hernando County Fire Rescue crews also responded to the scene and confirmed that Fowler was dead.
Fowler’s body was transported to the medical examiner’s office in Leesburg to determine the cause of death, according to HCSO. On October 19, 2023, autopsy results revealed the cause of death as fentanyl intoxication and that fentanyl was found in Fowler’s blood.
HCSO says they had also been informed by family members that Fowler had a ‘previous drug history’ and also told investigators that Fowler was under house arrest after a court appearance on June 28, 2023, just two days before his death. They say he was placed under house arrest for six months for failing to register as a sexual offender.
Authorities say on November 13, 2023, Fowler’s girlfriend told them that he bought drugs from Clark. She said she found text messages on her boyfriend’s phone revealing the drug exchange between the two a day before his death.
After reviewing Fowler’s phone, detectives also found text messages between Fowler and Clark arranging the drug deal.
On November 16, 2023, detectives say they met with Clark. They say originally, Clark told them that he sold Fowler meth. When detectives mentioned the text messages, Clark told them that he couldn’t recall what drug it was, but ‘believed it was methamphetamine’ stated the sheriff’s office in a Facebook post.
Further investigation also revealed that Clark was in the area of where Fowler lived on June 29, 2023.
A warrant was then issued for Clark’s arrest. On January 2, 2024, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Clark at his home located in Hudson. They transported him to the Hernando County Detention Center and booked him on charges of first-degree murder, distribution of fentanyl and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
He is being held without a bond and has a court date set for February 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Hernando County Courthouse.
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If you have any additional information regarding the case, you are encouraged to contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-866-990-8477 or **TIPS from a cell phone. HCSO says you will remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a reward up to $5,000 cash. You can also submit a tip online here.
Summary of timeline of events according to the sheriff’s office:
- June 28, 2023: Fowler’s court date where he was placed under house arrest
- June 29, 2023: Fowler purchases fentanyl and further investigation revealed Clark’s presence in the area
- June 30, 2023: Family member finds Fowler unresponsive
- October 19, 2023: Autopsy reveals Fowler died from fentanyl intoxication
- November 13, 2023: Fowler’s girlfriend confirms drug exchange between Fowler and Clark
- November 16, 2023: Detectives meet with Clark to discuss the investigation
- January 2, 2024: Deputies arrest Clark at his home in Hudson
- February 8, 2024: Clark’s first court date at the Hernando County Courthouse at 1:30 p.m.