Mankato synthetic drug deaths defendant on the lam

A Mankato man facing murder charges in the deaths of two people who ingested synthetic drugs has skipped his latest court hearing and is wanted by police.

The Mankato Free Press reports 21-year-old Tyler Caputo did not appear for a hearing Friday. A warrant had already been issued for his arrest earlier this month after he skipped three drug tests.

Family members also had told investigators he traveled to Chicago, and possibly Ohio. Under conditions of his release, he's not allowed to leave Minnesota without permission.

Caputo is accused of supplying a synthetic drug that killed 17-year-old Chloe Moses and 22-year-old Louis Folson in separate incidents in March.

Assistant Blue Earth County Attorney Pat McDermott says authorities are using every tool they have to try to find Caputo.

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