‘Merchant of death’ sent to prison
NORRISTOWN >> Calling a former Pottstown man “a merchant of death,” a judge sent him to prison for more than a decade for delivering a fatal dose of fentanyl to a borough woman who prosecutors said believed she was receiving heroin.
“This drug is killing people at an alarming rate and you are now defined as someone who caused the death of someone by delivering that drug,” Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill addressed Harold Robert Burton on Tuesday as he sentenced him to 13-to-35-years in prison in connection with the Jan. 29, 2016, overdose death of Renee Winslow, a mother of two, who resided on
High Street.
The judge noted Burton, 38, formerly of the 400 block of Spruce Street, previously spent several years in prison for selling crack cocaine in the borough.
Court records indicate that less than two years after his release from prison Burton was charged with drug delivery resulting in death, delivering fentanyl and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with Winslow’s death, charges of which a jury convicted Burton during a trial in July.
The jury acquitted Burton, whose most recent address was along West Ellet Street in Philadelphia, of a single charge of recklessly endangering another person.
“You are a merchant of death. That’s what you are,” O’Neill addressed Burton. “The public needs protection from you, protection from you … pure and simple.”
Burton didn’t react to the sentence, but shortly before learning his fate he addressed Winslow’s grieving relatives.
“I know it’s difficult to hear anything I have to say. I am deeply sorry for your loss. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” said Burton, stopping short of specifically taking responsibility for Winslow’s death.
During the trial, defense lawyer Carrie L. Allman argued Burton did not give fentanyl to Winslow and that there were no witnesses to a drug transaction between them.
While Burton characterized Winslow as his friend, the judge said “a friend” would have made sure that he wasn’t providing a fatal dose of drugs to her and had a moral duty to make sure the heroin wasn’t laced with fentanyl. The judge said Burton “peddled misery and death” to someone suffering a substance abuse disorder she couldn’t control.
“You called her a friend, but that’s not what friends do. You had the ultimate impact on the life of a victim,” said O’Neill, adding the evidence was overwhelming against Burton.
Winslow’s sister, Christina Mullen, expressed her grief and said while Burton
can still see his family she cannot contact her sister because “there’s no address or phone number to heaven.”
“We were the best of friends. You could always count on her to make you smile,” Mullen said about her sister.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Lloyd argued for a lengthy prison sentence against Burton.
“This man has a history of dealing drugs at whatever expense it is, at the expense of Renee Winslow’s life. He knew exactly what he was doing,” Lloyd argued, adding Winslow’s death is a tragic loss for her family. “They’re
never going to get to see her smile again. They’re never going to feel her embrace again.”
Allman sought a mitigated sentence for Burton, pointing out he had his own addiction issues, lack of a father figure in his life and a dysfunctional upbringing.
“His drug and alcohol use continued his entire life… regularly and daily,” Allman said.
During the trial, Lloyd argued Winslow thought she purchased heroin from Burton when in fact Burton delivered pure fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 40 to 50 times stronger than streetlevel
heroin.
Lloyd argued a text message reading “U ok” that Burton sent to Winslow at 11:53 p.m. Jan. 28 after delivering the fentanyl is evidence that he was Winslow’s drug supplier and that he knew what he had delivered to her was dangerous.
Burton, who also once resided in the 100 block of North Adams Street in Pottstown, did not testify during the trial.
But Allman argued prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to prove Burton delivered the drugs to Winslow. Allman downplayed the significance of the text message.
Testimony revealed that in a recorded phone conversation Burton made to a girlfriend from the county jail on June 22, 2016, the day after his arrest, he admitted he went to Winslow’s apartment but said it wasn’t to deliver drugs. Burton, according to testimony, told his girlfriend that Winslow had been “badgering” him via text message and that he went to her apartment to tell her to stop.
An investigation began about 5:52 a.m. Jan. 29, 2016, when Pottstown police responded to a report of an unresponsive person at an apartment in the 500 block of High Street. Arriving officers found a deceased female, who subsequently was identified as Winslow.
Investigators suspected
Winslow died as a result of a heroin overdose after they observed and recovered from the floor, in close proximity to Winslow’s body, three purported bags of heroin, and a needle recovered from atop a dresser, according to the criminal complaint filed by county detectives.
An autopsy determined Winslow died from an “adverse effect of fentanyl.” Prosecutors alleged lab tests on the three bags found in Winslow’s apartment revealed all the bags contained fentanyl.
Detectives obtained the victim’s cellphone records and uncovered alleged “drugrelated text message” conversations with Burton. Detectives determined Winslow, on Jan. 28, agreed to purchase four bags of purported heroin and that her supplier agreed to deliver the drugs to her at her residence, according
to the criminal complaint.
Video surveillance footage obtained from the vicinity of Winslow’s apartment showed Burton in and around the residence at about 10:46 p.m. Jan. 28, according to the arrest affidavit. Specifically, detectives alleged, Burton was observed entering Winslow’s apartment, remaining inside for a short period of time and then departing.
Winslow’s body was discovered by her boyfriend when he arrived home about 5:48 a.m. Jan. 29.
Detectives alleged a review of video surveillance footage showed that between the time Burton left Winslow’s apartment and the time Winslow’s boyfriend arrived to find her dead, no one else had entered or exited the apartment.