SMETHPORT — A Bucks County man pleaded guilty to allegations he sold morphine to a Wetmore Township woman who died from the drug.
Edward Valeri, 42, of Bristol, entered the plea Thursday in McKean County Court to a single count of drug delivery resulting in death, a first-degree felony. He went before President Judge John Pavlock.
Between Feb. 20 and 29 in 2106, Valeri delivered morphine to Suzie Witherell — an act which resulted in Witherell’s death, said District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.
Valeri, who remains incarcerated on $250,000 bail, will be sentenced May 17.
Alleged details of Witherell’s final days were described at a preliminary hearing Dec. 18.
According to testimony presented at the hearing, Witherell, 43, contacted Valeri on Facebook and asked, “Do you have anything I can buy?” Over the next few days, the pair kept in touch through cell phone and Facebook planning the sale.
He allegedly told her the only thing he had was morphine, which he sent to her via FedEx. Witherell’s husband reported to police that her behavior changed and she was having trouble breathing on Feb. 27, 2016 — the same day she messaged Valeri back to say, “Got it.”
Witherell died Feb. 29, 2016, of morphine toxicity.
The following other charges in the case were dismissed as part of the plea agreement: delivery of a controlled substance, aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person and criminal use of a communication facility.
