17-year-old Elizabethtown HS student who suffered fatal overdose signed to play college baseball last week

A 17-year-old Elizabethtown High School student who suffered a fatal overdose earlier this week signed to play college baseball earlier this month.

Hayden Willett signed to play baseball at Asbury College on December 13.

The Courier Journal reports that Bullitt Central High School and a Ballard High School baseball player posted condolences on X:

Bullitt Central statement

“Our Cougar Athletic Family would like to extend our deepest condolences to our brothers and sisters at E-town High School on the tragic loss of baseball standout Hayden Willett. Please know that you and the family are in our hearts at this difficult time. #27”

Ballard baseball player Zeke House

“Rest in Peace Hayden. Playing against you and with you was a pleasure! Ball out up there big guy!”

Willett is thought to have taken a Percocet pill[s] laced with fentanyl in a “bad batch of clandestinely made” pills that the Elizabethtown Police Department said are “circulating in the community” and have resulted in multiple overdoses.

Three people, including a juvenile, have been charged in the death.

The incident began when, according to Elizabethtown Police Department spokesman Chris Denham, officers responded Wednesday morning at approximately 7:00 to a residence “regarding a death investigation.” Upon arriving at the home, police determined Willett had suffered a fatal drug overdose.

“Within an hour and a half of receiving the initial call, our investigators identified the individual suspected of distributing the narcotics to the victim,” Denham said.

By 9:30 a.m., that suspect, a juvenile male, was located and taken into custody. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter, trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana. The suspect was lodged in a juvenile detention center.

Two adult males were also charged in the case: 18-year-old Damian S. Felker and 26-year-old Brandon E. Durbin, both of Elizabethtown, were charged with trafficking in marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Felker was also charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl), while Durbin was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

Both men were lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

“This tragedy is a direct and devastating consequence of illegal drug distribution. Let this serve as a strong message: drug traffickers are not welcome in our community. Those who bring harm to others through their illegal actions will be identified and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Denham said.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com