It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Terrell Hegler, aged 40, a vice president at Bay Area Community Services (BACS) and a passionate advocate for social equity and community empowerment. Terrell was found deceased in late March 2025 at a waterfront apartment in Oakland, California. A toxicology report later confirmed the cause of death as acute fentanyl poisoning.
Terrell’s death has not only left a void in the lives of his family, friends, and coworkers, but has also sparked an active felony investigation by the Oakland Police Department. Authorities are now working diligently to uncover how the fatal dose of fentanyl entered his system, amid a worsening opioid crisis gripping California and the nation.
Though the circumstances surrounding his passing are under scrutiny, those who knew Terrell remember him first and foremost for his compassion, leadership, and unwavering dedication to uplifting others.
A Life Committed to Service
Born in Oakland, Terrell was deeply connected to the Bay Area community throughout his life. His journey was rooted in purpose from a young age. After graduating with a degree in sociology, he focused his career on serving vulnerable populations—especially those affected by homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and poverty.
As vice president at Bay Area Community Services (BACS), Terrell worked tirelessly to ensure access to mental health care, transitional housing, and job readiness programs for those in need. His colleagues at BACS described him as “relentlessly driven by compassion” and “someone who never gave up on anyone.”
“He believed that people deserve second chances—and third, and fourth if needed,” one coworker said. “He had a rare ability to meet people exactly where they were and offer them both dignity and hope.”
His work was not just a job—it was a calling. Whether he was attending community meetings, coordinating outreach services, or spending long hours with clients, Terrell brought his full self to everything he did. His presence was felt deeply in every room he entered.
A Complex Personal Journey
Though his professional life was marked by remarkable accomplishments, Terrell’s personal journey was, like many, complicated by struggles—some of which he faced privately. In recent years, he had endured the painful dissolution of his marriage to a prominent legal figure in the Bay Area, identified as a high-ranking prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. While the two were estranged at the time of his death, those close to Terrell say he remained committed to healing, growing, and building a positive future.
Despite life’s difficulties, Terrell was never defined by his setbacks. Friends describe him as introspective, emotionally intelligent, and deeply spiritual. He was a firm believer in redemption—both for himself and others—and often said that true strength comes from facing your wounds head-on.
“He had his demons, but he didn’t hide from them,” a longtime friend shared. “He was honest, even when it was hard. And that made him a better advocate, a better leader, a better man.”
A Tragic Loss Amid a Growing Crisis
Terrell’s sudden and devastating passing has drawn public attention not only because of who he was, but also because of how he died. According to court records, his cellphone has been seized as part of an ongoing felony investigation aimed at determining who may have supplied the fatal dose of fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has become the leading cause of overdose deaths across the United States. Highly potent and often mixed into other substances without users’ knowledge, fentanyl has proven deadly even in trace amounts.
Oakland police have confirmed they are treating the case with the utmost seriousness. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, examining digital communications, and speaking with friends and acquaintances in hopes of uncovering how this dangerous drug made its way into Terrell’s system.
“This isn’t just about one case,” an OPD spokesperson said. “It’s about justice, accountability, and protecting others from suffering the same fate.”
Terrell’s death is one among thousands in California alone attributed to fentanyl in recent years. Yet each number represents a person—someone with a story, a family, a community. And in Terrell’s case, someone who spent his life fighting to save others from the very struggles that ultimately claimed his own life.
Remembering Terrell’s Impact
In the days since his death, tributes have poured in from all corners of the community. Former clients, colleagues, activists, and friends have taken to social media and local memorials to share their memories of Terrell—his booming laugh, his patient listening ear, his tireless energy for justice.
A memorial mural has already been commissioned in downtown Oakland in Terrell’s honor. The artwork will depict scenes from his community work and feature one of his favorite quotes: “The work is never about saving lives—it’s about loving them.”
In a written statement, BACS CEO announced that the organization would be launching the Terrell Hegler Legacy Fund, dedicated to supporting harm-reduction services and substance use recovery programs throughout the Bay Area. “Terrell’s legacy cannot be measured by his death,” the statement read. “It must be measured by his life—by the thousands of lives he touched, uplifted, and inspired.”
Terrell Hegler was more than a headline. He was more than a victim of the fentanyl crisis. He was a father, a friend, a builder of bridges, and a relentless advocate for the most overlooked members of our society. He believed that change was possible—and he lived that belief every day.
His death is a devastating reminder that the opioid epidemic does not discriminate. It affects every community, every demographic, and even those who fight hardest to stop it.
As we remember Terrell, let us not reduce him to the manner of his death. Let us honor the depth of his life, the courage of his convictions, and the immeasurable impact he made on the people of Oakland and beyond.
He is survived by his family, including his two young children, as well as countless friends, colleagues, and community members whose lives he touched.
