Arlington Woman Arrested in Irving on Warrants, Murder Charge in Fentanyl Death Reduced

IRVING, Texas — A 32-year-old Arlington woman previously charged with murder in connection with a fentanyl-related death was arrested by Irving police and other law enforcement agencies in October after authorities issued warrants involving her Dallas County bond and a separate identity fraud investigation in North Richland Hills.

Ashley Renee Degroote, 32, was arrested October 3, 2026, in a coordinated effort involving the Irving Police Department, Dallas County deputies and North Richland Hills police officers.

At the time of her arrest, Degroote had been out on bond in a Dallas County murder case involving the death of Kelsie Jo Patterson, who died after ingesting fentanyl.

Irving Weekly previously reported on Degroote's involvement in Patterson's death in January 2026.

Murder Charge Reduced to Fentanyl Delivery Offense

Degroote had been indicted on a first-degree felony murder charge in connection with Patterson's death.

A Dallas County warrant issued September 29 cited insufficient bond following a change in the charge she was facing.

On October 6, Degroote's attorney filed a stipulation to a lesser-included offense of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1/1-B involving fentanyl, a third-degree felony.

The court accepted the lesser offense, replacing the first-degree murder charge.

Degroote was subsequently released from the Dallas County jail after posting a $10,000 bond accepted by Judge Chatham.

Separate Identity Fraud Case Keeps Degroote in Tarrant County Jail

Although Degroote secured her release in Dallas County, she faced a separate criminal case investigated by the North Richland Hills Police Department.

That investigation involved allegations of fraudulent possession of identifying information belonging to other people, with the offense involving between 10 and 50 items.

North Richland Hills police had requested a warrant in connection with the identity fraud investigation.

On October 21, Degroote was booked into the Tarrant County jail to face the fraud-related charge.

According to the available jail information, a judge denied bond in the Tarrant County case, and Degroote remained in custody.

Defendant Has Previous Felony Conviction

Court records also show that Degroote has a prior felony conviction.

In 2015, she was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 432nd Judicial District Court.

The earlier conviction is separate from the fentanyl-related prosecution in Dallas County and the pending identity fraud case in Tarrant County.