Indianapolis Man Charged in 2024 Fatal Overdose

Ladell Dean, a 33-year-old inmate at the Hendricks County jail, has been charged with dealing a controlled substance resulting in the death of 31-year-old Aaron Love, who died from an acute fentanyl overdose in Indianapolis on December 21, 2024. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Overdose Death Task Force, in cooperation with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, identified Dean as the dealer responsible and filed a Level 1 felony charge against him. Love was found unresponsive at his home with an ankle monitor on, and investigation of his phone revealed communications linked to Dean. Dean, already in custody on unrelated charges, is awaiting extradition to Marion County to face the new charges. Deputy Chief of Investigations Kendale Adams emphasized the seriousness of every overdose death, commending the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies and reaffirming their commitment to justice and addressing the broader drug crisis in the community. Dean is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.