Everett woman dealt fentanyl that killed her ‘second mother’

EVERETT — An Everett woman accused of dealing the fentanyl that killed her best friend’s mother has been sentenced to two years in prison.

In 2022, prosecutors initially charged Lindsay Duff, now 31, with controlled substance homicide in the death of Diane Brennis, 48. But in April, the defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.

Under state sentencing guidelines, Duff faced 1¾ years to 2¼ years behind bars. Deputy prosecutor Bob Hendrix asked Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anita Farris to sentence Duff to two years. Public defender Alexandra Manno asked for the low end of the range.

Last week, Farris sided with the prosecution.

When Duff was a kid, her mother was accused of embezzling over $33,000 from the parent-teacher association at her Everett elementary school. This alienated Duff from her friends at school, a social worker wrote in court filings.

As early as 6th grade, Duff started experimenting with alcohol, marijuana and dramamine, the social worker wrote. Her best friend was Brennis’ daughter, so much of her early experimentation happened at Brennis’ house. In a letter to Farris, Duff wrote Brennis was “like a second mother to me.”

Duff reportedly dropped out of school in 11th grade as her drug abuse spiraled.

By 17, she transitioned to heroin, according to court documents. During this time, she lived in motel rooms and cars. Between 2011 and 2019, she had over a dozen misdemeanor violations, mostly for theft, trespassing and drug-related offenses.

Duff tried detox many times and went into inpatient treatment in Yakima. But drugs had such a hold on her, she couldn’t sustain her sobriety, the social worker noted.

Years later, Duff eventually reconnected with Brennis while Duff’s friend was dying. Just weeks before she died, Duff asked the friend if she was afraid to die, the defendant wrote in her letter to Farris.

“I’m not afraid to die,” Duff’s friend told her. “I’m just scared of leaving my mom all alone.”

Duff promised to take care of Brennis. A couple weeks later, in August 2018, her friend — and Brennis’ daughter — died.

To deal with her grief, Brennis reportedly asked Duff for drugs.

They would text back and forth about counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, according to charging papers.

At 10:53 a.m. on March 5, 2019, Brennis reportedly texted Duff, “Hey chica … I am ready for some more if you can.”

Duff replied, “Ok yep how many?”

Twelve hours later, Brennis, 48, passed out on the couch in her south Everett apartment. About six hours later, she was pronounced dead.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office determined she died from fentanyl exposure, according to court papers.

While other drugs were present in her system, the medical examiner reported fentanyl was “head and shoulders” above the others.

In her letter to the judge, Duff reflected on her decision to deal drugs to Brennis.

“As I was at the height of my addiction, I did not stop and think twice about the possible consequences of what I was doing by continuing to bring her drugs,” she wrote.

“At the time, I truly believed I was doing the right thing by being there for her.”

Duff is now sober, she wrote. She found work detailing cars and even became a sponsor for Narcotics Anonymous.

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; X: @GoldsteinStreet.