GRAPEVINE, Texas — A 35-year-old North Texas woman has been charged with murder and possession of a controlled substance in connection to the fentanyl overdose death of her boyfriend and former Tarrant County juvenile judge.
Grapevine police said officers responded on Nov. 20, 2023, to a home in the 4100 block of Mapleridge Drive for a death investigation.
The victim and former judge, 47-year-old Shane Nolen, was found dead in his bedroom "with signs consistent with an opioid overdose," police said.
Kami Ludwig, who initially called 911 and identified herself as Nolen’s girlfriend, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, according to Grapevine police.
Police obtained a search warrant for the home and found .614 grams of cocaine, 4.08 grams of fentanyl-laced "M-30" pills, .348 grams of oxycodone and 7.70 grams of generic Xanax. Police also searched Ludwig's phone and found that she called an alleged dealer or source of the "M-30" pills multiple times and visited them in Fort Worth the day before Nolen died.
Ludwig even called Nolen while at the location, her arrest documents read.
They also found similar pills in her purse per the documents.
Detectives surmised that Ludwig purchased fentanyl-laced pills and “knowingly distributed” them to Nolen, police said, who hadn’t visited the location in Fort Worth.
Police got an arrest warrant for the murder charge on Feb. 9, and Ludwig turned herself in to Tarrant County on Feb. 12.
A new law went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, creating a criminal offense of murder for manufacturing or distributing fentanyl that results in death.
Yet, that law has primarily been used to target dealers. Ludwig’s arrest documents read like she and Nolen were addicts and consenting drug users.
Kami Ludwig is being represented by defense attorney Tiffany Burks, of Varghese Summersett. Burks released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:
"Any fentanyl-related death is a tragedy, and our condolences go out to the friends and family affected by the sudden loss of former judge Shane Nolen. Fentanyl murder is a serious accusation, and judgment should be withheld until all the facts and circumstances are known. We proudly defend Kami as she, too, struggles with the loss of a beloved friend."
More Texas headlines: