Woman Faces Murder Charge In MoVal Fentanyl Death

MORENO VALLEY, CA — A 21-year-old Moreno Valley woman is facing a murder charge after she allegedly supplied a man with fentanyl and the narcotic killed him.

Savanna Michelle Carlos is accused in the death of 27-year-old Jesse Jimenez. The investigation into her was triggered the evening of Feb. 2 when deputies were called to the 21600 block of Winding Road in Moreno Valley regarding an unresponsive man, later identified Jimenez, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Despite efforts to revive him, Jimenez was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner later ruled he died from fentanyl, the sheriff's department reported.

A monthslong investigation determined Carlos provided the fentanyl to Jimenez, the law enforcement agency said.

"On October 24, 2023, the investigation was presented to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and charges were filed against Carlos for murder," according to the sheriff's department.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department in partnership with the District Attorney's Office has cracked down on suppliers in fentanyl death cases. To date, more than two dozen people are charged with murder in such cases across the county.

Carlos is in custody at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in San Bernardino for an unrelated case. Once her case there is cleared, she will be transferred to Riverside County to face the murder charge, according to the sheriff's department.