Indianapolis man arrested after selling drugs to Carmel woman that caused fatal overdose

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. — An Indianapolis man was arrested after he reportedly sold drugs to a Carmel woman that caused a fatal overdose in May 2023.

According to court documents filed in Hamilton County earlier this month, 30-year-old Joey Thompson Jr. was charged with one count of dealing a controlled substance resulting in a death, a Level 1 felony.

On May 27, 2023, officers with the Carmel Police Department responded to a home in Carmel on a call of a possible overdose. When officers arrived, they found that Kelly Curry had overdosed and was later pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed that Curry had overdosed on fentanyl.

At the scene, they found multiple items, including a white substance on top of a cell phone, a spoon, a lighter as well as a syringe cap and needle. The substance on the cell phone later tested positive for fentanyl. Court documents state that Curry’s family told police that they believed Curry would meet up with a man at a local pharmacy to get drugs.

During a search of Curry’s phone, detectives uncovered conversations between Curry and a man later identified as Thompson. Multiple conversations between the two surrounded apparent drug transactions.

Officials said the latest conversation between the two happened on the afternoon of May 26. The documents said the transaction reportedly occurred at a Carmel business that afternoon and about an hour after the transaction, based on phone activity, it was believed that Curry had died.

Detectives tracked Thompson down using the phone number that Curry was reportedly texting before her death. Through this phone number, the documents said that police were able to link a green 2013 Toyota Camry to Thompson and use tracking data to place Thompson at the same location as Curry on May 26.

In July 2023, officers arrested Thompson after they conducted surveillance at a home on the near southeast side of Indianapolis. After police searched Thompson’s home and the car, officials reportedly found drugs, as well as drug paraphernalia and a handgun.

According to court documents, Thompson’s initial hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.