Greg Coy, Anchor/Reporter WJCL News
"When you stand over your child's grave and realize that somebody is responsible for his death, I think he needs to be brought to justice."
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
A Savannah man has been indicted on murder charges by the Chatham County Grand Jury for allegedly selling drugs that caused a fatal overdose.
The indictment was handed down last week following a two-year investigation into 43-year-old Eric Bradley Strong. He is accused of selling methamphetamine laced with fentanyl to Bobby Hughes, who died from an overdose in August 2023.
Hughes’ family remembers him as a kind and loving brother.
“I can still see you right now. Always laughing,” said his older brother, Ashley.
His sister-in-law recalls him as a devoted uncle.
“He was so much fun. He loved my kids like crazy,” said Jennifer Hughes.
His mother continues to mourn the loss of her youngest son.
“Well, he was my baby. He was the apple of my heart,” said Elaine Hughes.
The family had questions, and so did authorities. Law enforcement later discovered that Hughes had purchased drugs tainted with fentanyl.
“We are increasingly seeing the seizures of all the drugs that we have. We are testing them, and they are coming back laced with fentanyl,” said Michael Sarhatt of the Chatham Narcotics Team.
It took two years, but investigators eventually gathered enough evidence for a grand jury to indict Eric Bradley Strong on charges of murder and drug offenses. According to his arrest record, Strong has prior convictions in Chatham County for selling methamphetamine in 1999, 2012, and 2019.
“Well, I know this is not his first go around. He was a drug dealer, and I don't think he really cared, based on his track record,” said Sarhatt.
Court documents from Bryan County show that Strong was also arrested for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced drugs to Tyree Fuewell, who died on November 25, 2022. Richmond Hill Police arrested Strong in September 2023, about one month after he is accused of selling drugs to Hughes.
“When you stand over your child's grave and realize that somebody is responsible for his death, I think he needs to be brought to justice. Our hurt will always be here. It will never go away. And our son is gone,” said Elaine Hughes.
Strong’s arrest in the Hughes case is the second, but it marks the third time in Chatham County that an alleged drug dealer has been charged with murder for selling fentanyl-laced drugs that resulted in death.
“You sell fentanyl, and you kill somebody, we are coming after you,” said Sarhatt.
No court date has been listed for Strong in Chatham County. His case in Bryan County could go to trial by next spring.