Former 16 and Pregnant star Whitney Purvis has been arrested for involuntary manslaughter after allegedly supplying a drug mixture that caused the overdose death of chef John Mark Harris
Whitney Purvis, known for appearing on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, has been reportedly been arrested in Georgia for felony involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal drug overdose.
According to records obtained by TMZ, the 33-year-old was taken into custody in Floyd County on Monday. Authorities allege that Purvis supplied a substance known as Tranq – a dangerous combination of xylazine and fentanyl – which reportedly led to the death of 37-year-old John Mark Harris.
According to the publication, the arrest warrant accuses her of “intentionally distributing” the drug. Police responded to a call at Harris’s residence in Rome on February 17, 2025, where they discovered him unresponsive.
At the time, FOX 5 Atlanta reported that officers noted signs of possible drug use at the scene. Harris was pronounced dead shortly after.
Harris had worked as a chef at Barnsley Gardens and was described in his obituary as a kind and generous man who “never met a stranger” and he was remembered for his “willingness to help others.”
The obituary read: “Whether it was bandaging a wound, trips to the airport, or a place to lay their heads for a time, he was willing to lend a hand. He loved fiercely and would do anything he could for one of his friends.”
Under the online tribute, Purvis shared a personal message reflecting on their relationship and her unbearable grief. “John mark, I hate that I found out what happened today and missed your funeral. I wish I could’ve found out sooner and attended your celebration of life,” she wrote.
“You’ve came to my rescue on many occasions and saved me over the years. We bonded over being chefs, our love of cooking and our struggles. I could tell you anything and you always knew what to say or give me your honest opinion and advice.”
She continued: “I don’t want it to be true. I’ll miss waking up to your silly messages and pictures you’d send me. I’ll miss your amazing cooking. I’ll miss snuggling on the couch watching TV with you.”
Purvis closed the message with a final tribute: “Most of all, I’ll miss you, a truly good hearted & one of a kind man, John Mark. I’ll never forget you. Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and friends. I pray they are able to find some kind of comfort during this tragic time. I love you forever, John Mark. Love, Whitney.”
However, this is reportedly not Purvis’s first legal trouble as she has prior arrests, including one for shoplifting and another for contempt of court over child support issues, according to reports.
Her arrest comes just a month after a separate tragedy following the death of her 16-year-old son, Weston Jr.
In a Facebook post, she shared: “This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don’t understand.”
According to his stepmother, Weston had ongoing health problems, including diabetes, and was found unresponsive in the morning at his home.
The Mirror has approached Purvis’ representatives for comment on this story.
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