A Christmas night that ended in tragedy in 2024 reached a courtroom milestone this week. Mariah Jade Brewer, 26, of Lawton, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Comanche County District Court to first-degree manslaughter and three related drug charges in the fentanyl death of Chyna Alexander, 26, who was found dead at a Lawton residence shortly before 10:45 p.m. on December 25, 2024. Judge Grant Sheperd sentenced Brewer to 20 years with the Department of Corrections, eight to serve and 12 suspended, with all counts running concurrently, plus $7,096.25 in fines, fees and restitution.
Prosecutors say the transaction that killed Alexander was small: $60 worth of fentanyl. Court records show Alexander paid Brewer through CashApp and that Brewer sent co-defendant Rebecca Gonzalez, 35, to deliver the drug. Brewer also admitted changing her CashApp name after learning Alexander had died. Gonzalez remains free on $50,000 bond and is scheduled for trial in the January/February 2027 jury docket.
The case reflects a broader trend locally and nationwide: dealers and suppliers are increasingly being charged with manslaughter when the drugs they provide prove fatal. For families in Lawton and around Fort Sill, it is also a reminder of how quickly fentanyl can turn a purchase into a funeral.
What message do you think this sentence sends to our community? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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