Nashville, TN – A Wilson County family found some measure of justice this week after a lengthy legal battle following the death of their son, Evan Leonard, from a fentanyl overdose in West Nashville in 2022.
Evan, a 21-year-old young man, was discovered dead by his roommate at their apartment on July 15, 2022. According to Metro Nashville Police, Evan had reportedly taken an ecstasy pill the night before that made him feel “weird.” However, Evan’s parents, Nikki and Mike Leonard, have maintained that their son believed he was taking cocaine. The drug, however, was laced with fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid that has contributed to the rise of fatal overdoses across the country.
Evan’s death was part of the disturbing trend of fentanyl-related fatalities. The tragic loss prompted his parents to begin a determined quest for justice, hoping to hold accountable the person responsible for selling their son the lethal drug. For nearly two years, the family waited for developments in the case, fearing that their son’s death might not lead to legal consequences.
That wait ended on December 17, 2024, when 34-year-old Adrian Raybon, the man accused of selling the fentanyl-laced drug to Evan, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to two charges: reckless homicide and delivery of a controlled substance. Raybon was sentenced to 10 years of probation. If he violates the terms of his probation, he faces the possibility of serving 10 years in prison, with no chance of early release.
While Nikki Leonard had hoped for a harsher penalty, she found some sense of closure in the court proceedings. “When the judge asked Adrian, ‘Is this correct?’ and Adrian said, ‘Yes,’ my heart sank,” she recalled. “But at the same time, we all just held hands and it was like, ‘He admitted it. He admitted it!’ Like, everything that we knew, he literally just said yes.”
For the Leonard family, the legal resolution was not about seeking revenge but rather ensuring accountability and shining a light on the dangers of street drugs laced with fentanyl. In a statement following the plea, Nikki expressed a message of hope for others who may be going through similar tragedies. “All I can tell any family that’s going through what I’m going through is don’t give up. Don’t give up. You keep fighting, you call the detectives, you keep your child’s case on top of that file, and you don’t give up,” she urged.
Though the family will never fully heal from the loss of their son, Nikki made sure to honor Evan’s memory, describing him as “amazing and wonderful and warm and cuddly and loving.” She recalled him as a son, a brother, an uncle, and “the love of somebody’s life,” emphasizing that his life and legacy would not be forgotten.
Evan Leonard’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of illicit drugs and the fentanyl crisis that continues to claim lives across the United States. Despite the justice brought in this case, many families are still fighting for accountability and awareness as fentanyl continues to infiltrate the street drug market, claiming more young lives each year.
As the Leonards move forward, they remain committed to keeping Evan’s memory alive while advocating for justice and greater public awareness about the risks associated with drug use.