Rochester Man Charged After Fatal Overdose Linked To Fentanyl

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The man arrested in connection with a deadly Rochester-area drug overdose made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.

51-year-old Charles Antonio Webster Sr. is charged with third-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and first-degree drug sales.

His conditional bail was set at $200,000 following his first court appearance Tuesday morning.

51-Year-Old Minnesota Man Charged for Deadly Drug Overdose

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspected drug overdose at a home in the 3800 block of Highway 14 east of Rochester on the morning of March 13, 2025.

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First responders rendered life-saving aid but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, the complaint says.

Through the investigation, the sheriff’s office learned the victim had arrived in Rochester the previous day after finishing long-term drug treatment in Duluth, the charges say.

If you or someone you know if struggling with drug and/or alcohol dependence, help is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. To speak to someone on the phone, dial 1-800-622-HELP (1-800-622-4357) or send a text message to 1-800-487-4889.

After arriving at the Rochester area home, the victim went outside to meet with a person he called his friend. The victim returned to the home a short time later and was seen with a “big white ball of something,” the court document says.

The court document says the victim had passed out in the home twice after obtaining the substance but was awakened both times. Detectives found the white substance in the home.

Autopsy Determines Cause of Death

A test on it conducted at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime lab determined the substance contained fentanyl and xylazine, which is a tranquilizer that’s known as “tranq,” according to the complaint.

An autopsy determined the victim died from toxic effects of fentanyl and xylazine, the court document states.

Phone Records Reviewed

Investigators reviewed the victim’s phone and discovered a series of text messages and phone calls between him and Webster.

The text messages indicated the two were setting up a meeting. A different conversation between the victim and a different contact in his phone indicated he was purchasing drugs, according to the charges.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Webster’s phone and vehicle and executed the warrant in April of last year.

Investigators found the address of the home where the victim was found dead was punched into the phone's GPS, the charges say.

Location data also indicated Webster was at the home for a brief period of time the night before the victim’s death. According to the court document.

Webster was taken into custody on Monday. He is due back in court next month.