Families demand accused fentanyl drug dealer stay in prison after teenager's death

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas – Families in Central Texas are demanding that an accused drug dealer and murderer stay behind bars.

Families who have lost loved ones due to the fentanyl crisis gathered in Georgetown.

They held a rally outside Williamson County District Court, where 21-year-old Kreli Haynes was scheduled to appear before the judge for a possible reduction in his bail.

Haynes was arrested under a new state law that allowed him to be charged with murder in the December death of 16-year-old Zarek McMeekin, who was killed by fentanyl poisoning.

Zarek was a high school student in Leander ISD when Haynes supplied him with the drugs that killed him, according to prosecutors.

His mother, Martha, spoke on the courthouse steps Wednesday morning, urging other families to educate themselves and have Narcan on hand just in case.

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“We want to raise awareness about fentanyl poisoning. You don't want to go into your room and find your child dead,” said Martha Ledezma, Zarek's mother. “We would like to get these people off the streets because who is to say they are not going to keep going and keep selling and take more lives.”

Although Haynes was briefly arraigned, his bail hearing was postponed until October.

He remains in the Williamson County Jail on bail of over $1.2 million.