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Whitney Purvis has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges stemming from the 2025 overdose death of her friend, 37-year-old John Mark Harris. 

Whitney Purvis accused of causing Georgia man’s fatal overdose

On January 9, authorities in Georgia indicted the 16 and Pregnant alum on a charge of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, according to court records viewed by Showbiz Cheat Sheet. She’s accused of selling the drugs that led to Harris’ death in February 2025. 

Purvis, who is represented by a public defender, is also facing charges of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, sale of fentanyl, and four counts of illegal use of a communication facility. Per the indictment, Purvis allegedly introduced “the idea of a controlled substance to John Mark Harris, discussing its potential effects and pricing, discussing delivery and payment methods, and describing how to ingest said substance by using aluminum foil.”

Investigators previously said that Purvis sold Harris a drug known as “Tranq,” a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine. She was arrested in July 2025, five months after Harris’ fatal overdose.  

Purvis entered a not guilty plea to all seven charges on January 29. Her next court date has been set for April 1.

‘16 and Pregnant’ alum called Harris ‘a great friend’

After her arrest, it emerged that Purvis has left a lengthy post on Harris’ online obituary page. She thanked him “for being such a great friend to me and always making me feel beautiful and cared for.”

“You’ve came to my rescue on many occasions and saved me over the years … My brain just can’t process this happened,” she added.

Purvis appeared on the first season of the MTV reality show about teen moms in 2009. On June 2, her son Weston died at age 16. 

“This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just [don’t] understand,” she wrote on Facebook. “Oh my baby is gone and I don’t know what to do with myself. He was so perfect. This is really my worst nightmare come true. How do you go on in life after losing a child?”

How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

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