Snellville man charged in fentanyl death of a Lawrenceville man under Austin’s Law

This is second Austin’s Law charge by Gwinnett County Police Department in as many months.

GWINNETT COUNTY – (Aug. 17, 2024) – Gwinnett County police detectives have arrested a Snellville man and charged him under the new Austin’s Law for selling illegal drugs laced with fentanyl that allegedly caused the death of a Lawrenceville man.

Emory Clark, 39, of Snellville is charged with manslaughter in the death of Christian Howell, 23, of Lawrenceville under Austin’s Law.

Emory Clark

This is the second time in as many months that Gwinnett County has brought charges under Austin’s Law. On July 12, GCPD announced murder and manslaughter charges against Cara Edelkind, accused of of selling fentanyl-laced drugs to Jaspen Screws, of Snellville, resulting in his death. Screws was found unresponsive in his home on May 20 and transported to a hospital where he died. Edelkind was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter for a fentanyl overdose death, felony murder and sale of a controlled substance.

Cara Edelkind

According to a press release from Gwinnett County Police Department, the investigation into this latest case began on July 31 after officers responded to a residence on Mill Glenn Court in Lawrenceville to check on an unresponsive male. They arrived to find Howell dead inside a bedroom. When they located illegal drugs inside the room with Howell, they contacted detectives who responded to the scene and began the investigation. This reportedly involved collecting phone data, conducting surveillance, and using other investigative resources which led to identifying Clark as the narcotics distributor that sold the drugs to Howell resulting in his death.

Clark was arrested on August 13 and investigators served a search warrant at his house. During the search, they allegedly located specific narcotic packaging, similar to what was found at Howell’s house on the day he died. Detectives reportedly also located a stolen handgun. Clark was subsequently charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter for a fentanyl overdose death, sale of a schedule II-controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by receiving stolen property.

The manslaughter charge in this case comes from the new Austin’s Law, which was signed in May of this year by Governor Brian Kemp. The law allows officers to criminally charge drug dealers and distributors for fentanyl-related deaths. Austin’s Law, (Senate Bill 465) was named after Austin Walters, a 31-year-old man who died in Lowndes County from a fentanyl overdose after taking a Xanax pill. Penalties for a conviction under Austin’s law range from a minimum of 10 years to up to 30 years or life imprisonment.

Editor’s Note: An arrest or charge does not constitute a conviction.