Powell County man indicted federally in multiple overdose deaths across central Kentucky

WINCHESTER, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Powell County man already charged in one woman’s death and suspected in two others is now facing federal charges in connection with multiple fatal overdoses, according to a news release from Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson.

The release states that 44-year-old Brian Phillip Epperson was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Lexington on two counts of distributing methamphetamine resulting in death. Each count carries a minimum sentence of life in prison if he’s convicted.

Epperson was originally charged in Powell County earlier this year with murder, possession of methamphetamine, and tampering with physical evidence in the death of 32-year-old Kristen Morris, who investigators say died in May from an apparent overdose inside an Airbnb in Stanton. He was arraigned on those state charges in September.

According to Winchester Police, the federal indictment follows a months-long investigation that began after the June 27 death of Reacheal Dawson, who was found dead at the Red Roof Inn in Winchester.

Police say Epperson is also a suspect in the November 2024 overdose death of a woman in Lexington, which remains under investigation by Kentucky State Police.

Epperson remains in the Clark County Detention Center and is now in federal custody, according to the release.