16 And Pregnant alum Whitney Purvis is facing up to more than 40 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and other crimes stemming from the 2025 death of a Georgia man.
The former reality star also pleaded guilty earlier this week to charges of illegal use of a communication facility, and the sale of a controlled substance as part of an Alford Plea, which allows a defendant to plead guilty in a case while also maintaining their innocence, according to documents viewed by People.
Purvis was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration and Floyd County authorities in July 2025, just one month after the death of her 16-year-old son, Weston.
According to the affidavit, the former 16 And Pregnant star provided John M. Harris with “a substance presented as ‘Tranq,’ commonly known as Xylazine and Fentanyl,” which “directly contributed to the victim’s death due to a toxic overdose.”
Harris was 37 when he died at his home in Rome, Georgia, on Feb 17, 2025, according to his online obituary.
“John Mark never met a stranger and had a way of caring for those who crossed his path,” the obituary read.
“He loved fiercely and would do anything he could for one of his friends. John Mark gave the best hugs and had the most infectious smile most had ever seen,” the obituary continued. “He loved entertaining and the goal of his gatherings was to spend quality time and strengthening the relationships with his friends.”
Purvis also paid tribute to Harris online in wake of his death, remembering him as a “great friend.”
“I’ll never forget you. Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and friends,” she wrote. “I pray they are able to find some kind of comfort during this tragic time. I love you forever, John Mark. Love, Whitney.”
Purvis faces up to 44 years behind bars. Her sentencing date has not been set. She is best known for appearing on the inaugural season of MTV’s 16 And Pregnant in 2009, though she did not go on to appear on the wildly popular spin-off, Teen Mom.
In June 2025, she revealed one of her two sons with Weston Gosa Sr, Weston Jr, had died.
“This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away,” she wrote on social media at the time. “He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just dont understand.”
Purvis told People at the time that Weston had several medical issues, including Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Addison’s disease, which she said resulted in him having diabetes. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
