USA: Man charged with homicide for sharing drugs with woman who later died

By Joshua Vaugn
Under Pennsylvania’s drug delivery resulting in death statute, a man faces up to 40 years in prison for sharing heroin with a woman who overdosed.
On Nov. 2, 2016, Shannon Fashian died inside the home of Glenn Perella in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, from a heroin overdose. Fashian’s overdose was treated like a crime scene by the police who searched Perella’s home while medical personnel attempted to revive the 28-year-old.
Even though Perella, 54, tried to save Fashian’s life by administering opioid reversal drug naloxone, calling 911, and remaining by her side until help arrived, the Bethel Park Police Department charged him with felony drug delivery resulting in death. Police said Perella bought heroin for Fashian, who then shared half the purchase with him.
Under Pennsylvania’s drug delivery resulting in death statute, Perella faces up to 40 years in state prison if convicted. In order to be charged with the crime, which is considered a criminal homicide, a defendant has to only provide or sell drugs to another person who used them, overdosed, and died. There is no requirement that the individual who sold or shared drugs ever intended to cause the death.