San Diego, California – The nephew of the late San Diego Chargers legend Junior Seau entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday to a murder charge in connection with a fentanyl sale that resulted in a man’s fatal overdose. Micah Rodgers Seau, 31, is accused of providing fentanyl pills to 31-year-old Connor Gerhart, leading to Gerhart’s death on June 1, 2023.
Authorities claim that Seau purchased pills from co-defendant Sheri Cavanaugh and then supplied them to Gerhart, who subsequently died at his Pacific Beach home. Both Seau and Cavanaugh are facing murder and conspiracy to commit a crime charges that could result in up to 15 years to life in state prison if convicted.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office described Seau and Cavanaugh as “longtime associates dealing illegal narcotics.” According to District Attorney Summer Stephan, these defendants were fully aware of the dangers associated with the drugs they were selling, yet continued to distribute them into the community without regard for the consequences.
Since 2017, the D.A.’s Office has charged eight individuals with homicide-related offenses related to fatal fentanyl sales, with approximately 800 fentanyl-related deaths reported in San Diego County in both 2021 and 2022. Stephan emphasized the deadly nature of fentanyl, stating that it claimed more young lives than any other cause in the nation last year.
Connor Gerhart, the victim in this case, was remembered as a beloved member of the San Diego community. A graduate of La Jolla Country Day High School and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Gerhart was actively involved in construction projects at the time of his passing. His death has left his friends and family devastated, with his potential and promising future cut short by the tragic event.
The prosecution is committed to holding Seau and Cavanaugh accountable for their actions, emphasizing the serious consequences associated with distributing lethal substances like fentanyl. As the legal process unfolds, the community mourns the loss of Connor Gerhart and reflects on the devastating impact of drug-related tragedies.