A Boone woman has been charged with death by distribution following the November 2025 overdose death of her son. Shari Rogers Treadway, 66, of Boone, was arrested Wednesday evening, September 16, by the Alexander County Sheriff's Office. The arrest was made on a warrant issued by the Boone Police Department. Treadway, identified as a former nurse at Watauga Medical Center, faces a Class C felony charge of death by distribution (delivery), in addition to previously filed charges of embezzlement and drug diversion. Court appearances are scheduled for October 5 and October 19.
Court documents list November 6, 2025, as the date of the offenses. Investigators allege that Treadway, who possessed access to controlled substances through her nursing position, diverted Adderall and hydromorphone. Both substances are classified as Schedule II controlled substances. Authorities further allege that Treadway delivered fentanyl and cocaine to her son, Seth Treadway, on that same date. The ingestion of these combined substances is alleged to have proximately caused his death, according to information from court records and various media reports.
The embezzlement and drug diversion charges against Treadway were initially filed in January and were subsequently indicted by a Watauga County grand jury in March. In response to these developments, the North Carolina Board of Nursing has suspended Treadway's license. In its official filing, the board stated that some of the controlled substances discovered in Treadway's home “allegedly matched the hospital lot numbers” tied to inventory missing from Watauga Medical Center. The board also officially confirmed the familial relationship, stating Seth Treadway was her son.
North Carolina General Statute 14-18.4, known as the death by distribution law, is a felony under state law. This statute was initially enacted in 2019 and was later expanded in 2023. It was developed in direct response to the opioid crisis, aiming to address fatalities stemming from the unlawful supply of controlled substances. The law applies specifically when an individual unlawfully delivers or sells certain controlled substances, and a user's death occurs as a proximate result of ingesting those substances. The Class C felony designation for death by distribution underscores the serious nature of these charges in North Carolina.
The ongoing legal process will delve further into the allegations, including the alleged diversion of prescription medications from a healthcare facility and their purported role in a fatal overdose. These proceedings highlight the severe legal ramifications associated with the unauthorized handling and distribution of controlled substances, particularly when such actions are linked to tragic outcomes. The case, involving a former healthcare professional, draws attention to the critical importance of secure controlled substance management.
