A Palm Coast man with an extensive criminal history has been indicted on first-degree murder charges after a lengthy investigation determined he sold fentanyl that resulted in a fatal overdose.
Joseph Bourke Jr., 38, of Palm Coast, was indicted by a Flagler County grand jury on November 7 for first-degree murder by unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. The indictment followed a nine-month investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit into the death of Brian Seaverns.
The Overdose Death
On February 27, deputies responded to a reported overdose at The Palms at Town Center apartment complex in Palm Coast. When they arrived, they found 42-year-old Brian Seaverns unresponsive and not breathing. Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics pronounced Seaverns deceased at the scene.
The Major Case Unit began investigating the circumstances surrounding the overdose. Detectives interviewed the 911 caller, a family member who discovered Seaverns after waking from a nap. The caller reported seeing Seaverns inject what they believed to be fentanyl earlier that day.
Inside the apartment, detectives found multiple needles, smoking pipes, and a bottle cap containing a white powdery substance. The substance tested positive for fentanyl and was submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which confirmed the results.
Identifying the Seller
As the investigation continued, detectives determined that Seaverns had purchased fentanyl the day before his death at a motel in Daytona Beach. Through their investigation, detectives identified Joseph Bourke Jr. as the suspected seller.
Detectives contacted the Volusia Bureau of Investigation for assistance and obtained a search warrant for the motel room. During the execution of the warrant, four individuals were found inside, including Bourke. Detectives recovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, narcotics paraphernalia, and Bourke’s cellphone. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office arrested all four individuals on various narcotics-related charges.
Building the Case
The Major Case Unit continued the overdose-death investigation with support from multiple departments, including the Community Policing Division, Special Investigations Unit, Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Digital Forensics Unit, and Real Time Crime Center. The 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit also assisted with the investigation.
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and electronic communications connected to the case. Evidence showed that Bourke had supplied Seaverns with fentanyl on multiple occasions, including the day before his death.
On May 13, the district medical examiner ruled that Seaverns’ sole cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives determined that Bourke knowingly supplied Seaverns with the fentanyl that resulted in his death.
Murder Indictment and Current Status
The grand jury indictment for first-degree murder by unlawful distribution of a controlled substance was handed down on November 7. Bourke was served the indictment on Monday at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility after being transported from Tomoka Correctional Institution, where he is currently serving a sentence on unrelated charges. He is being held without bond.
“When a poison peddler kills someone by selling them a fatal dose, they are committing murder under Florida law,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “These are difficult cases, but we are committed to holding poison peddlers accountable and making sure they face justice for ending someone’s life. I thank everyone on our team, as well as our partners at the Volusia Bureau of Investigation and the State Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this lengthy but successful investigation. This dirtbag needs to go to prison for a very long time.”
Criminal History
Bourke has an extensive history with law enforcement. He has been arrested 31 times, including 24 arrests by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. His record includes 16 felony charges, with 10 resulting in convictions, and 22 misdemeanor charges, with 12 resulting in convictions.
Previous charges against Bourke include DUI with property damage, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, robbery, burglary, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, sale of oxycodone, domestic assault, written threats to kill or commit bodily harm, driving while license suspended, failure to appear, and violation of probation.
The murder charge represents a significant escalation in how Florida law enforcement handles fatal drug overdoses, treating drug dealers who supply fatal doses as murderers rather than simply drug traffickers. The case required extensive collaboration between multiple law enforcement agencies and investigative units to build sufficient evidence linking the drug sale directly to the victim’s death.
The post Palm Coast Drug Dealer Indicted on Murder Charge Following Fatal Fentanyl Overdose first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
