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Two people alleged to have provided fentanyl that caused the death of Cole Letexier, 24, a little over a year ago were before Judge Jesse Seabrooks III online Monday this week, to hear about bail terms. Both continue to be held. 

Letexier was discovered deceased March 19, 2025 at an address on 318th in Chisago Lake Township.  The medical examiner found the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.

Authorities have been working to identify suspects charged with providing fentanyl to Letexier, which in Minnesota can result in conviction on third degree unintentional murder. 

The defendants in court Monday this week are Michael Laurence Bunde, 65, of Chisago City and Morgan Kathryn Johnson, 26, of the same township address where Letexier’s body was located.  

They made their first court appearance remotely by a video network from the county jail. John Lesch represented Johnson and a public defender was assigned to Bunde.  

Without going into detail, Judge Seabrooks stated he had “significant concern” about releasing Johnson. The judge offered terms of bail of $250,000 with conditions and $500,000 without rules.   

Lesch argued for a substantial monetary reduction and more leniency in the conditions of release. The defense attorney said there was a “lengthy delay" from when she was apprehended compared to when Letexier died and pointed out the defendant had not had any incidents, arrests or contact with law enforcement in that time.  There is no overwhelming proof and the evidence is “far from conclusive," Lesch added, looking for his client’s release.  

The judge declined to accept the counter request, so Johnson remains jailed for now.  Her next hearing will be July 22.

Johnson was tried about eight years ago and convicted of aiding and abetting a drug-related death in 2016. She was a co-defendant with a local man, Alex Menne, 19,  in providing drugs that were the proximate cause of an overdose death of a local 18-year old male.  

Johnson was 17 when this occurred, but she was sentenced in adult district court. Her extended juvenile jurisdiction expired in September 2020 when she turned 21.

At the sentencing in 2018 Johnson was ordered to treatment and to do work service and an 86 month term in prison was stayed. 

Bunde, meanwhile,  is alleged in the complaint warrant to have sold the fentanyl to Johnson, who then allegedly delivered it to Letexier.  Bunde also did not achieve bail.  There was a process question about his public defender’s ability to represent him.  Bunde’s next court hearing will be July 14.  Judge Seabrooks said by that date a public defender will have been assigned.

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