Suspect arrested, accused of selling fentanyl pills to woman, leaving her to die: MCSO

BRADENTON, Fla. - A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder over a year and a half after he allegedly sold fentanyl pills to a woman who overdosed and died.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says the victim, 27-year-old Taylor Moran, was found dead in the back seat of her car at a Bradenton Wawa gas station off of State Rd. 70 E back in August 2023.

The backstory:

Initially, investigators said there were no signs of foul play and a small blue pill, which tested positive for fentanyl, was found in Moran's clothing.

Close to a year later, in August 2024, detectives discovered that Evan O’Connor knew he was selling fentanyl pills to Moran.

Previous mugshot of Evan O'Connor. Courtesy: Manatee County Jail.

Investigators say that Moran ingested the pills and then passed out in front of O'Connor. That's when O’Connor and the woman he was with put Moran in the back of her car and left her at Wawa.

Text messages showed that Moran had asked O'Connor for "blues" (Oxycodone).

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An interview with the woman who was with O’Connor on the night of the overdose confirmed that he sold Moran pills and left her at the Wawa to die.

O'Connor has been charged with murder by distribution of fentanyl, which is a capital first-degree felony.

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What's next:

He is currently being held at Holmes Correctional Institution in Bonifay, Fla.

The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

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