COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two suspects were arrested in Colorado Springs Thursday in connection to a fentanyl overdose death investigation that began in 2022. Hailee Helton and Thomas Galiano III were identified as the suspects in the fentanyl overdose death investigation in El Paso County. The investigation also linked them to another overdose in Pueblo County. Federal arrest warrants for the pair were issued in August 2023 for the unlawful distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in both El Paso and Pueblo counties. Helton and Galiano eluded law enforcement and were featured in Pikes Peaks Most Wanted.
After obtaining information on Thursday that led to the whereabouts of the suspects, detectives contacted the residence on South 18th Street where the suspects were found. The suspects attempted to flee on foot, but multiple units of officers aided in their apprehension and took them into custody after a brief foot chase. Helton and Galiano were both booked into the El Paso County jail and as of the latest update, Galiano was being held on no bond.
The arrest of Helton and Galiano marked a significant development in the investigation of the fentanyl overdose deaths. According to Colorado Springs police, the complexity of the case required federal arrest warrants for their unlawful distribution of fentanyl, which resulted in deaths in both El Paso and Pueblo counties. The apprehension of the suspects is a testament to the dedication and diligence of law enforcement officials in pursuing justice for the victims of these tragic incidents.
As the investigation continues, the arrests of Helton and Galiano bring hope for closure and justice to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and the law enforcement’s commitment to holding accountable those who engage in its unlawful distribution resulting in death.