JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man and Orange Park woman are each facing a manslaughter charge — among other charges — stemming from separate overdose investigations in Duval County, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
John Thomas Michael II, 48, was taken into custody Friday, July 24, on a local arrest warrant. He is being held at the Duval County jail on a combined bond of more than $800,000.
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The death
On March 27, 2024, JSO deputies say they responded to Commonwealth Ave. following a report of an undetermined death. A man was found in his bedroom, where investigators say they also located multiple small baggies containing unknown purple-colored powders and small pieces of folded aluminum foil inside a pill bottle on his bedside table, along with his cell phone.
The District IV Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an inspection the following day. The Medical Examiner ruled the death an accident, citing acute combined drug intoxication from fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, temazepam, doxylamine, dextrorphan/levorphanol, and dextro/levo methorphan.
In June 2025, according to the arrest report, the ME told investigators that, in his professional opinion, the fentanyl in the victim’s system was “a substantial factor” in his death.
The investigation
JSO’s Homeland Security Division Narcotics Overdose Death Investigation Task Force led the investigation. Investigators conducted a forensic examination of the victim’s cell phone, which revealed text message conversations with a contact saved as “Tom Melissa”.
JSO says a search of law enforcement databases connected that number to Michael II. Records also showed that between March 13, 2024, and March 24, 2024 — days before the victim’s death — there were 14 answered phone calls between the victim’s phone and Michael II’s number, according to his arrest report.
Investigators also noted that Michael II’s address sits directly in front of the victim’s residence.
A local arrest warrant was issued July 23, 2026, and Michael II was arrested the following evening.
Charges
Michael II faces four felony charges:
- Manslaughter — bond set at $700,003
- Sale or delivery of fentanyl — bond set at $50,003
- Solicitation to commit — bond set at $25,003
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device — bond set at $25,003
Orange Park Woman arrested
A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigation has led to the arrest of an Orange Park woman on manslaughter and drug-related charges in connection with the overdose death of a Jacksonville man earlier this year, according to police.
Whitney Lynn Wilhite, 38, of Orange Park, was arrested July 24 on charges of manslaughter, sale or delivery of a controlled substance, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. She was transported from the Clay County Jail on a local arrest warrant. No bond has been set.
Victim found unresponsive in March
The case stems from the death of a man whose body was found unresponsive March 22, 2026, at a home on Margolyn Court in Jacksonville. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, where the man was pronounced dead.
A JSO homicide detective responded to investigate. The man’s sister later located a bottle of methadone in his bedroom inside an open Amazon package on his nightstand. The District IV Medical Examiner determined Brown died of methadone toxicity.
Narcotics unit takes over investigation
Investigators reviewed a download of the victim’s cell phone, provided by a computer forensics investigator. The review confirmed his phone number and revealed a series of text message conversations with a contact saved in his phone as “Whitney White IOP”, according to the arrest report.
A law enforcement database query linked the phone number associated with that contact to Whitney Lynn Wilhite through multiple prior arrest records, including a Florida Highway Patrol report from December 2020 and a JSO report from August 2020.
Text messages tied to drug transaction
According to the arrest report, investigators reviewed text message exchanges between the victim and Wilhite in the days leading up to his death, including conversations on the morning of March 22, 2026 — the day he died. The arrest report states the content of those messages, along with cell site location data obtained through court-issued search warrants, supported the conclusion that Wilhite sold the victim the methadone that caused his death.
Charges, warrant details
Wilhite faces the following charges:
- Manslaughter
- Sale, manufacture, or delivery of a controlled substance
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device