HARRISBURG, PA — A Clearfield County man has been charged with third-degree murder in connection with the 2019 overdose death of Dalton Cole, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced.
Clint Addleman, 48, of Morrisdale, allegedly supplied drugs that contributed to Cole’s death. Addleman, already incarcerated on unrelated federal charges, was originally charged last year with offenses related to the case. However, based on additional evidence gathered during the investigation, a 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury recently recommended the murder charge.
According to case details, Cole had visited Addleman’s home on June 13, 2019, to purchase methamphetamine. Prosecutors allege that Addleman, who regularly supplied Cole with methamphetamine, instead gave him heroin mixed with fentanyl, falsely claiming it was meth. After using the drugs, Cole suffered a fatal overdose and was pronounced dead at Penn Highlands Healthcare in DuBois.
Authorities noted the sequence of events leading up to the hospital transport involved a friend of Addleman’s girlfriend, who transported Cole despite Addleman’s objections. Investigators allege Addleman urged his girlfriend not to alert police or emergency services at that time.
Reacting to the case, Attorney General Dave Sunday remarked, “This case is yet another example of how fentanyl tears apart families and devastates communities. I commend the Grand Jurors who committed much time and effort to hearing this case before deciding that this conduct was murder, and we will pursue that charge in court.”
Beyond the murder charge, Addleman faces previously recommended counts including possession with intent to deliver and three counts of intimidation of a witness. These charges remain pending.
Deputy Attorney General David C. Gorman of the Drug Strike Force Section will prosecute the new charge.
Officials emphasize that criminal charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further developments in the case will be made public as proceedings continue.
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