Blaine woman asked if pills were “legit” before 2021 overdose death

Court documents show Blaine resident Aeschli Wilkinson, who died of an overdose last year, wanted oxycodone but was given pills made from fentanyl. Wilkinson hurt her back a month before her death and started taking the pills after the tramadol she was prescribed wasn’t alleviating her pain.
Wilkinson, 30, asked alleged dealer Tanner Allen Larson if the blue pills he was selling her were “legit,” according to the affidavit of probable cause (APC) filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. Made to look like oxycodone, the pills were counterfeit and contained fentanyl, but Larson said the pills were OK before selling them to Wilkinson.
Larson, 31, of Blaine, was booked into Whatcom County Jail August 3 on suspicion of one count of controlled substance homicide, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of counterfeit substance violation and five counts of delivering a controlled substance, according to jail records.
Over a year earlier, Blaine Police Department (BPD) officers responded to 702 E Street around 8:30 p.m. May 7, 2021 to an unattended death report, according to the APC. Wilkinson’s roommate found her deceased, and fentanyl was detected in her system after a preliminary drug test. Officers returned to the scene and found drug paraphernalia. BPD then requested assistance from Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) to investigate a possible controlled substance homicide death.
A doctor prescribed Wilkinson tramadol after she injured her back at work a month before her death. Wilkinson told friends she was still in pain and started inquiring where to get pain medication, according to court records.
WCSO deputies learned Wilkinson contacted Larson through Facebook Messenger looking for pain medication. From their messages, deputies concluded Larson sold Wilkinson pills with fentanyl.
On April 28, 2021, Larson told Wilkinson he has painkillers and “zanax,” according to the APC. Wilkinson allegedly purchased eight pills from Larson and, on May 5, 2021, reached out for more. Larson agreed to sell another eight pills to Wilkinson for $100, and they agree to meet in the same location as last time. After meeting May 6, 2021, Wilkinson messaged Larson that she only got six pills with a photo of six blue pills in a tan pill bottle. Larson apologized and said he could either return the money or get two more pills.
Wilkinson was found dead the next day. She had 63 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl, 97 nanograms per milliliter of tramadol, 150 nanograms per milliliter of desmethyltramadol, 870 nanograms per milliliter of dufoxetine and 110 nanograms per milliliter of 7-aminoclonazepam in her system at the time of her death, according to the APC.
“Fentanyl in its clandestine form is a deadly drug,” said Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo in an August 4 news release. “The sheriff’s office will continue to prioritize the investigation of deaths resulting from the street sale of this drug as homicides.
Larson is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, jail records show.