By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com

CLAY COUNTY — Brandon J. Loudermilk, 27, Gladstone, has been charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child – death of a child, and drug trafficking. Both are felonies. He has currently been in the Clay County Detention Center since Feb. 1, 2024, on other drug trafficking charges, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.

On March 24, Loudermilk went in front of the judge and the court entered a plea of not guilty. The case will be continued to April 1.

In the probable cause statement, Loudermilk “knowingly distributed to a confidential juvenile victim more than 20 milligrams of any compound mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.” The event took place March 24, 2022, when the Gladstone Fire Department was dispatched on a 911 call. The teen was taken to the hospital.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office as well as efforts in tandem with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration, the juvenile has been identified as 16-year-old Ethan Everley who took a pill with a fatal dose of fentanyl in it. He passed away in the hospital five days later.

The charges have now been filed just before the three-year anniversary of Everley’s death.