'16 & Pregnant' Whitney Purvis Reportedly Made Suicidal Comments Behind Bars

Whitney Purvis continues to experience what must be the most challenging year of her life, as her mental health reportedly takes a beating behind bars.

The "16 & Pregnant" alum recently made waves by getting arrested for involuntary manslaughter a month after losing her 16-year-old son. Now, her time in police custody will be under surveillance after she made concerning comments.

Whitney Purvis gained fame for starring on MTV's reality TV show as a teenage mother. She welcomed two children with her former flame, Weston Lewis Gosa; however, her oldest son died on June 2, 2025.

Purvis' struggles behind bars were revealed by law enforcement sources who claimed she had been placed on suicide watch at the Georgia jail. Officers took her into custody on Monday, July 7, on involuntary manslaughter and two other charges.

According to the legal informants, cops deemed it necessary to have a stricter watch over Purvis because she allegedly made suicidal comments behind bars. Her concerning statements saw her getting medically designated and committed within the jail system.

These insiders also told TMZ that Purvis was flushing the drugs out of her system by undergoing a detox. Her withdrawal from substance use comes months after a man named John Mark Harris died earlier this year by using a dangerous mix allegedly sold by Purvis.

The Blast reported on Purvis' involuntary manslaughter charge, reporting that she was taken into custody at Floyd County for allegedly supplying Harris with "Tranq," the drug that killed him. The Drug Enforcement Administration described the substance as a deadly mixture of Fentanyl and Xylazine.

Harris reportedly suffered a toxic overdose from using Tranq, leading to his subsequent demise and Purvis's issues with the law. She also received two extra charges in relation to his death, including possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Purvis' arrest happened at a challenging point in her life, coming weeks after she announced the passing of her 16-year-old son, Weston Owen Gosa. She shared the news on Facebook, lamenting the loss of her teenage boy and how heartbroken she was over the incident.

While the involuntary manslaughter charge might be the most severe crime Purvis has ever faced, it wasn't her first rodeo with the law. In 2019, she was arrested in Georgia and booked on a misdemeanor theft by shoplifting charge over a Walmart incident.

Purvis reportedly used a pregnancy test kit at a local Walmart store and tried to escape through the side door. However, the store's security guard noticed her shady behavior and placed her under citizen's arrest before the cops arrived.

That same year, Purvis and her boyfriend were arrested for destroying some electronics and taken into custody for criminal trespassing. Last year, the former reality TV star made waves for failing to make her child support payments and was arrested again.

Harris, the man who died from Purvis' alleged drug supply, received a heartfelt message from the media personality weeks after his passing. TMZ shared that she dropped her tribute in March, noting she found out about his death late.

"John Mark, I hate that I found out what happened today and missed your funeral. I wish I could've found out sooner and attended your celebration of life. Thank you for being such a great friend to me and always making me feel beautiful and cared for," Purvis began.

Purvis' message implied that she and Harris had a close bond during his lifetime, as she thanked him for rescuing her on several occasions and saving her over the years. "We bonded over being chefs, our love of cooking, and our struggles," she claimed.

Purvis's poignant tribute continued with more reflections on her relationship with Harris, whom she noted she could always tell anything and depend on his advice. "I am so very thankful for the times we had together," she wrote, adding:

"My brain just can't process this happened. I don't want it to be true. I'll miss waking up to your silly messages and pictures you'd send me. I'll miss marshal and lunchbox. I'll miss your amazing cooking. I'll miss snuggling on the couch watching tv with you."

Although Purvis noted she would miss Harris for all the good times they shared, she stressed that she would miss him more for being "a truly good-hearted & one-of-a-kind man." The media personality vowed never to forget her friend and sent her condolences to his grieving family.

Can Whitney Purvis overcome this challenging phase of her life?