Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Matthew James Hurley, age 29, was sentenced by Judge O’Keefe for causing the fentanyl overdose of Melody Brazil. Hurley pled guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and furnishing fentanyl to the victim in this case. Hurley was sentenced to serve more than a year of incarceration and to felony probation. Any violation of probation exposes Hurley to a maximum of six years in jail.
On the early evening of March 24, 2023, Marina Police Officers were dispatched to call of an unconscious woman, Melody Brazil. Officers performed many life-saving measures including administering several doses of Narcan, a medication used to reverse fentanyl overdoses.
After reviving Melody, she was transported to the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for emergency treatment. Melody was placed into a medically induced coma on life support. She was removed from life support several days later and died because of a drug overdose. Detectives began to investigate the source of the fentanyl that killed Melody. Their investigation led them to Hurley as the person who furnished Melody with the lethal doses of fentanyl.
Hurley was on probation because of his 2022 conviction for being under the influence of fentanyl. A search of Hurley’s place of residence yielded illegal drug paraphernalia.
On March 27, 2024, detectives arrested Hurley. During Hurley’s in-custody Miranda interview with Marina Police Department detectives, he admitted he was a drug user and was fully aware of the dangers associated with fentanyl use and that one of his family members had recently passed away due to a fentanyl overdose. Hurley also admitted he provided Melody with crushed M30-pills, a form of fentanyl. The investigation also determined that Melody asked Hurley to stay with her while she ingested the fentanyl because she feared an overdose; however, Hurley refused.
This case was investigated by Detective Michael Ball and other members of the Marina Police Department. DA Victim Unit Advocate Kristin Peterson supported Melody’s family throughout the court proceedings.
