{"id":28709,"date":"2026-05-17T09:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T14:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/?p=28709"},"modified":"2026-05-17T09:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T14:44:08","slug":"grand-forks-woman-denies-fatal-fentanyl-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/grand-forks-woman-denies-fatal-fentanyl-sale\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Forks Woman Denies Fatal Fentanyl Sale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grand Forks<\/strong> (trfnews.i234.me<\/a>) \u2014 A Grand Forks woman has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge tied to a fatal fentanyl overdose.<\/p>\n

Taumi Cheree Vitell, 43, waived her Monday, May 11, preliminary hearing. She then entered a not guilty plea.<\/p>\n

Vitell is charged with Class A felony distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n

Fatal Overdose Investigation<\/h2>\n

The case stems from an Oct. 17, 2024, call in Grand Forks.<\/p>\n

The Grand Forks Police Department<\/a> was sent to a residence at about 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

A woman reported finding her boyfriend lying face down on a bed.<\/p>\n

Investigators later found methamphetamine, fentanyl residue, and drug items inside the home.<\/p>\n

They also recovered the man\u2019s cell phone.<\/p>\n

\"MugshotTaumi Cheree Vitell<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

According to a court summary, the phone included messages between the man and Vitell.<\/p>\n

Those messages allegedly showed Vitell sold him fentanyl within one or two days of his death.<\/p>\n

Vitell denied bringing narcotics to the man\u2019s residence.<\/p>\n

Phone Records Cited<\/h2>\n

A forensic download of Vitell\u2019s phone also became part of the case.<\/p>\n

The summary said she deleted all communication between herself and the deceased man.<\/p>\n

It also said she blocked him on Facebook after his death.<\/p>\n

Location data allegedly placed Vitell at the man\u2019s residence three times.<\/p>\n

Those visits reportedly happened during the early morning hours on the day he died.<\/p>\n

Vitell has not been convicted. The charge remains an allegation in court.<\/p>\n

More information on North Dakota court records is available through the North Dakota Court System<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Federal information about fentanyl risks is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Next Court Hearing<\/h2>\n

Vitell\u2019s next hearing is a final dispositional conference.<\/p>\n

It is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 6.<\/p>\n

That hearing is her final chance to change her plea under a possible plea agreement.<\/p>\n

Any later plea change would be considered an open plea.<\/p>\n

In that case, the judge would decide the sentence.<\/p>\n

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Grand Forks (trfnews.i234.me) \u2014 A Grand Forks woman has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge tied to a fatal 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