Whitney Purvis, once known for her role on MTV’s 16 & Pregnant, is now facing serious criminal charges that could change her life forever. The 33-year-old was arrested on July 7, 2025, in Floyd County, Georgia, and charged with involuntary manslaughter following the fatal overdose of John Mark Harris earlier this year.
According to court documents, Purvis is accused of distributing Tranq, a dangerous drug cocktail combining Fentanyl and Xylazine, which directly contributed to Harris’ death on February 16. In addition to manslaughter, she's facing felony charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and a misdemeanor for using a communication device in the commission of a drug-related felony.
Authorities revealed that Purvis had posted a heartbreaking tribute to Harris on his online obituary weeks after his passing. In the March 3 message, she described him as a loyal friend who “came to her rescue” many times and reminisced about their late-night conversations, cigarettes, and shared love of cooking. “I love you forever, John Mark,” she wrote.
But behind the emotional note was a darker reality. The arrest affidavit alleges Purvis knowingly distributed the fatal dose, though she did not intend for it to cause harm. No bond had been set at the time of reporting, and Purvis has yet to make a public statement.
This arrest comes on the heels of another devastating blow in Purvis’s personal life—the recent death of her 16-year-old son, Weston Gosa Jr., who died on June 2, 2025. While the official cause is still unconfirmed, Purvis claims her son had several health conditions, including diabetes, Addison’s disease, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and lacked the medical support he desperately needed.
In a series of emotional Facebook posts, Purvis accused her ex-partner, Weston Gosa Sr., of neglecting to provide proper healthcare for their son. She alleged that despite having a life insurance policy and purchasing multiple cars, Gosa failed to maintain medical coverage for their children—a stipulation in their custody agreement. She also claimed she was blocked from attending her son’s funeral.
“I never wanted to go through something like this,” she told People in June. “When I’m not crying, I’m just staring at the ceiling. I can’t imagine a future now.”
Purvis first appeared on MTV in 2009, portraying the harsh realities of teen motherhood. Since then, her life has been marked by custody battles, legal issues, and personal loss. She previously made headlines for minor arrests involving shoplifting and unpaid child support but had largely stayed out of the spotlight until this year’s tragic turn of events.
As her case unfolds, it paints a haunting portrait of a reality star whose early fame gave way to years of turmoil—and now, a potentially life-altering trial.
