Teen charged with manslaughter in overdose death of 16-year-old girl in B.C.

PRINCE GEORGE — Mounties in Prince George, B.C., say a 17-year-old has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a 16-year-old girl who suffered a fatal overdose in 2024.

They say their investigation began when frontline officers were called to a home in the College Heights area around 10 p.m. on June 26, 2024, for the girl who had been found unconscious.

Police say the girl later died in hospital and was found to have high levels of fentanyl in her blood.

They say the B.C. Prosecution Service approved one charge of manslaughter against an unnamed 17-year-old on Tuesday.

The RCMP say the teen was taken to court that morning and has been released on conditions.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Whitehouse, plainclothes commander for Prince George RCMP, says the girl’s death had a large impact on the community and police are “committed to making every effort to ensure that our youth are safe.”

They are pleased the matter will be addressed by the court, Whitehouse says in a news release.

“We also want to encourage parents, guardians and teachers to continue having hard conversations with youth about unprescribed drug use and its inherent dangers.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2026.

The Canadian Press