Pawtucket man sentenced to 40 years for fentanyl-related death, first under Kristen's Law | ABC6

A Pawtucket man, 44-year-old Walik Morrison, was sentenced to 40 years in state prison for his involvement in the fentanyl-related death of a 35-year-old mother in 2022. The sentencing took place on Monday in Providence Superior Court, where Morrison faced multiple felony charges related to drug possession and distribution, as confirmed by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

Morrison was found guilty on December 10, 2024, of delivering a controlled substance that resulted in death, under legislation referred to as Kristen's Law. This law, named after Kristen Coutu—who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2014—was enacted in 2018 by former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to impose severe penalties, including life sentences, on drug dealers involved in fatal overdose cases.

The events leading to Morrison’s conviction began on January 25, 2022, when Tokie Zammerelli contacted him for cocaine. He delivered a substance that was later determined to be a mix of cocaine and fentanyl. Tragically, Zammerelli was found unresponsive by her husband shortly after ingesting the substance, and despite efforts by rescue personnel, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation revealed that Zammerelli had significant amounts of fentanyl in her system—more than three times the amount typically seen in overdose victims. Additionally, their inquiry into her cell phone records indicated that she had been communicating with Morrison, leading to a search warrant for his residence.

Law enforcement officers discovered large quantities of fentanyl, along with other narcotics, at Morrison's home. During an interview, he confessed to misleading Zammerelli about the substance, admitting that he had actually delivered crushed fentanyl pills instead of cocaine, thus contributing to her tragic death.