Prison for fatal drug overdose
Souderton woman sentenced in death of Lansdale man
NORRISTOWN A Souderton woman admitted she delivered a fatal mixture of fentanyl and heroin — bags stamped with “Danger” and a skull and bones insignia — to a Lansdale man who she claimed was a friend and who suffered a fatal overdose.
“He died as a result of your drug dealing. You killed him,” Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein addressed Kelsey Marie McCabe, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the July 31, 2018, fatal overdose of Justin Martella, of Lansdale. “With friends like you, who needs enemies.”
Accepting a plea agreement, Rothstein sentenced McCabe, 27, of the 500 block of Lincoln Avenue, to 8 to 16 years in a state prison.
Quoting a statement made by
Martella’s mother, the judge added, “Today is justice for Justin.”
Testimony revealed McCabe previously spent time in prison on drug-related charges.
“That did not stop your drug dealing,” Rothstein sternly addressed McCabe, suggesting McCabe didn’t learn a lesson from her previous run-ins with the law. “We should not be fooled by your youthful look of innocence. You are far from it.”
McCabe is still awaiting court action on outstanding drug charges and a parole violation hearing in Bucks County Court and could be sentenced to additional prison time in those cases, testimony revealed.
Choking back tears, Martella’s mother, Toni, said she came to court for “justice for Justin.”
“Justin was a fun-loving young man. His smile melted your heart. He was my clown, my protector, my son, my everything,” said Toni Martella, who wore a purple and white t-shirt embossed with a purple ribbon and the words “I wear purple for Justin Martella.”
Jamie Stahelek, Justin’s sister, said the young man was “the best uncle” to her children.
“He was always smiling and laughing and just a joy to be around. Life is so different without him,” Stahelek told the judge. “No amount of time will ever bring him back but, I hope and pray that this serves a lesson and better choices are made in the future so no one else has to suffer the way we are.”
McCabe, who was represented by defense lawyer Louis R. Busico, apologized to Martella’s mother and sister.
“I’m very, very sorry. He was a friend of mine and I didn’t intend for that to happen,” McCabe said.
Assistant District Attorney Lindsey T. Mills sought a state prison sentence against McCabe.
“She admitted that she delivered heroin and fentanyl to the victim Justin Martella. Had he not taken the drugs that she had sold him he would still be alive. It’s a significant state sentence…it takes into consideration that a life was lost here and the direct cause of that was the delivery of drugs, fentanyl and heroin,” Mills said.
“It should tell people that here in Montgomery County we take these charges very seriously. If we can prove that the drugs you delivered killed somebody, you’re going to get charged with it…,” Mills added.
An investigation began about 6:42 p.m. July 31, when Lansdale police responded to an apartment in the 300 block of West Sixth Street for a report of a heroin overdose and discovered Justin Martella unresponsive inside the residence, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Zachary Zeoli and Lansdale Detective Joseph Gary.
Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful and Martella was pronounced dead at 7:12 p.m.
A subsequent autopsy determined Martella’s cause of death was heroin and fentanyl intoxication.
At the scene, investigators found six blue glassine bags that were “stamped with ‘DANGER’ with a skull and bones design in red,” according to the arrest affidavit.
“These baggies are consistent with what is used to package heroin and or fentanyl. The blue baggies were empty except for traces of white powder,” Zeoli and Gary alleged in the arrest affidavit.
A forensic analysis of the “baggies” stamped “DANGER” found that they contained a combination of fentanyl and heroin, according to the criminal complaint.
Detectives also seized Martella’s cellphone and when they examined its contents they uncovered text message communications between Martella and McCabe, who Martella referred to as “H Girl” in his contact list, according to the criminal complaint. In court documents, detectives characterized the communications as “coded drug-related text message conversations.”
Martella had been communicating with McCabe in the hours before his death to purchase heroin from McCabe for $80, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities alleged the text messages indicated that a meeting was arranged for Martella to purchase drugs from McCabe at a location near her Souderton residence on July 31.
Court papers indicate that as detectives were investigating Martella’s death, McCabe was arrested by state police for alleged DUI after she displayed indicators of drug impairment during a traffic stop in Trumbauersville, Bucks County, on Dec. 22, 2018. A subsequent search of McCabe’s vehicle uncovered 323 packets of suspected heroin and $2,729 cash, according to court documents.
McCabe must answer to those additional drugrelated charges in Bucks County Court.
“He died as a result of your drug dealing. You killed him.”
— Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein
“Justin was a fun-loving young man. His smile melted your heart.” — Toni Martella