SPRING HILL, Fla. – The nearly three-year investigation into a fatal 2022 overdose has reached a conclusion, with the woman who sold the lethal drugs pleading guilty and receiving a 15-year sentence in state prison.
Nicole Marie Davies, 35, appeared in Circuit Court on October 16, 2025, where she entered a guilty plea to a charge of Manslaughter and was subsequently sentenced to 15 years with the Florida Department of Corrections.
The Original Incident and Investigation
The case stems from an incident on October 25, 2022, when Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies and Fire Rescue were dispatched to a residence on Piper Road regarding a possible overdose. The victim, identified as Sean O’Leary, was found unresponsive and later pronounced deceased at a local hospital.
An autopsy determined O’Leary’s cause of death to be “combined drug toxicity with methamphetamine and fentanyl.”
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Detectives quickly began their investigation, finding a clear baggie with a white residue—later confirmed to be fentanyl—on O’Leary’s person. Further investigation revealed dialogue between O’Leary and Davies regarding the purchase of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl. Authorities determined that Davies had delivered the narcotics to O’Leary around the time of the overdose.
Based on this evidence, detectives developed probable cause for Davies’ arrest. She was taken into custody on March 11, 2024, and originally charged with Murder by Distribution of Illegal Substances.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis praised his team’s persistence and sent a stern warning to drug distributors in the community.
“As the sheriff of Hernando County, I want to send a clear message: if you’re peddling illegal narcotics here, we’re coming for you,” said Sheriff Nienhuis. “My detectives have been relentless since October 2022, leaving no stone unturned to bring to justice those responsible for the tragic death of Mr. O’Leary. We’ll stop at nothing to put you and your suppliers behind bars. Your days of dealing in our community are numbered.”
Davies will now serve her sentence with the Florida Department of Corrections.
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