Whitney Blake Purvis, known for appearing on MTV’s 16 & Pregnant, has been arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter in connection with a drug overdose death earlier this year, according to police records.
The charges relate to an incident on 16 February 2025 in Rome, Georgia, where officers responding to a home found 28-year-old John Mark Harris deceased. An arrest warrant alleges that Purvis supplied Harris with a drug mixture known as “Tranq,” a combination of fentanyl and the veterinary tranquiliser xylazine, which has been increasingly linked to overdose deaths across the United States. Police say the substance directly contributed to Harris’s death.
Purvis gained national attention in 2009 when she appeared on the first season of 16 & Pregnant, a show documenting the experiences of young women navigating teenage motherhood. Her arrest comes just over a month after the death of her 16-year-old son, Weston Owen Gosa, on 2 June 2025. The family has stated that the teenager died from an illness, pending autopsy results.
In a Facebook post after her son’s death, Purvis wrote: “This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston, has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don't understand. Oh my baby is gone and I don't know what to do with myself.” She added: “Words just can't describe the pain I am feeling. I love you so much, Weston Owen Gosa.”
Purvis has previously faced legal issues, including arrests on misdemeanour charges such as shoplifting and contempt of court related to child support.
