In opening statements yesterday in Westmoreland County Court, the prosecution told the jury that 23-year-old Dylan Blair of Saltsburg sold a deadly mix of heroin and fentanyl to 38-year-old Michelle Spillar of Derry, whose roommate overdosed on the drugs and was revived, and who took the drugs herself and was found dead two days later in her bedroom.
Defense attorney Emily Smarto countered that the prosecution does not have the evidence to prove that the specific drugs provided by Blair caused Spillar’s death, as proven by autopsy results that showed she died from a combination of several different drugs.
Spillar was found dead on the day after Christmas, 2016, with a used bag of drugs stamped “Head Games” and two more unused stamp bags next to her body.
Assistant D.A. Jim Lazar said Spillar bought the drugs from Blair, who was a friend of her son’s best friend. Her roommate also bought eleven stamp bags from Blair on the day before Christmas, and is expected to testify today about overdosing and then warning Spillar about the danger.
Blair is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and three counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was taken into custody in May of 2017 after Westmoreland County detectives tracked him down at the Days Inn in Burrell Township, along Route 22 outside of Blairsville. His trial is being held before Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani.
