A 40-year-old Calgary man has been charged with manslaughter after a 16-year-old girl died of a carfentanil overdose at his home last November. Calgary Police say it is the first time the service has ever laid such a charge.
Steve Phillip Gilbert Collins was taken into custody on June 25. He appears in court July 6. The allegations have not been tested in court.
What happened
On the evening of November 27, 2025, Jordynn Atkins-Materi, 16, and a 16-year-old friend met with Collins in downtown Calgary. Collins was an acquaintance of both teenagers. The group went back to his residence in the 8300 block of Centre Street NE, where police believe drugs were consumed.
At 7:25 a.m. on November 28, Collins found one of the girls unconscious and called 911. Emergency responders could not revive her. An autopsy confirmed she died from the toxic effects of carfentanil.
Charges came after an investigation by the Calgary Police Service Drug Investigations for Safer Communities Team and consultation with Alberta Crown prosecutors.
Why this charge has not happened before
Calgary Police say this is the first manslaughter charge the service has ever laid in connection with an overdose death. The charge came from the DISC Team, which was created in 2025 out of a 2023 pilot project specifically to investigate overdose deaths and target the drug traffickers behind them.
"This is a heartbreaking loss, and we extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family," said Staff Sergeant Sean Gregson of the CPS Undercover Operations Unit. "This is exactly why the DISC Team was created to ensure every overdose is thoroughly investigated and to target those responsible for trafficking these dangerous substances."
The charge was announced June 26 the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
What carfentanil does and why it keeps killing people
Carfentanil is not fentanyl. It is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. It was developed as a sedative for large animals and has no approved medical use in humans anywhere in the world. In Canada it can only be legally possessed by veterinarians.
The reason it keeps appearing in overdose deaths is straightforward: it is cheap to produce, extraordinarily potent in tiny quantities, and virtually undetectable without drug checking equipment or fentanyl test strips. A quantity too small to see with the naked eye is enough to kill. It is frequently mixed into other substances counterfeit pills, MDMA, cocaine without the user's knowledge. The person consuming the drug has no way of knowing it is there.
Naloxone can reverse a carfentanil overdose but the dose required is significantly higher than for fentanyl. Multiple doses are often needed and the window to act is narrow.
Who Jordynn was
Jordynn Louise Atkins-Materi was 16 years old. Her obituary describes her as a beautiful, bright, creative, and loving young woman.
"She loved writing, painting, and creating, and had a special affection for babies, whether real or her cherished dolls. Jordynn showed courage and determination in making positive changes in her life, and her kind heart touched everyone who knew her."
What comes next
Collins next appears in court July 6. Anyone with information can contact Calgary Police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or stopcrimeyyc.com.
Sources:
City of Calgary Newsroom, Man charged with manslaughter following fatal drug overdose, June 26, 2026 (newsroom.calgary.ca)
Calgary Police Service, official X post, June 26, 2026 (@CalgaryPolice)
Staff Sergeant Sean Gregson, Calgary Police Service Undercover Operations Unit, statement June 26, 2026
