"Medicine Man" in Fatal Infant Heroin OD Case Dies

SAN ANGELO  — Dustin Wayne Smock, a key figure in the tragic 2020 case involving the administration of heroin to an infant, has passed away, authorities confirmed Saturday.

Smock, 37, who was romantically linked to Cristin Bradley, was implicated in the death of two-month-old Brixlee Marie Lee. In his interview with police, Smock came across as the medicine man, claiming to have procured and administered medicine to the infant that was born at the house on Webster Ave. and had never left the house where she was born.

Brixlee Marie Lee, the infant, was discovered unconscious at a residence on the 2200 block of Webster Ave. in San Angelo on November 7, 2020.

Upon arrival at the scene, San Angelo police found the infant unresponsive and immediately rushed her to Shannon Medical Center. Inside the cluttered residence, medical paraphernalia including a stethoscope and tweezers were discovered, alongside a box of adolescent Tylenol.

According to initial reports, Smock, along with Cristin Bradley, who previously entered a plea deal for 11 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, had been attending to Lee while Harbour was occupied elsewhere. Upon their return, Lee was found unconscious and not breathing.

Lee was subsequently transported to Cooks Medical Facility in Fort Worth where she was placed on life support, though tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter. Medical examinations revealed injection sites on the infant's hand, arm, and head, with a urine sample confirming the presence of opiates.

All three individuals – Smock, Harbour, and Bradley – were arrested and charged with injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury.

Despite legal proceedings being underway, Smock's untimely demise on January 9, 2024, has left many unanswered questions. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown.

Bradley was convicted on August 4, 2023, of Reckless Injury to a Child by Omission, a second-degree felony, while Harbour received an identical sentence on December 22, 2023.

While the death of a defendant is not typically of interest to the public, the nature of Smock's involvement in the harrowing case warranted its mention. However, details regarding his death continue to elude authorities.