WEST CHESTER, PA — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office announced that on August 31, 2023, a jury convicted Christopher Barbuto, 41, of Phoenixville, PA of drug delivery resulting in death, tampering with physical evidence, and related charges for the death of Courtney Wilson, age 28, of Phoenixville, PA. After the defendant supplied fentanyl and Xanax to the victim causing her to overdose, he failed to call 911 for almost 24 hours, he cleaned up the scene, and disposed of evidence. He will be sentenced at a later date.
“The defendant allowed the victim to die after he gave her this poison. He waited almost 24 hours to call 911 for help, and then lied to dispatchers in an effort to minimize his culpability,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “He told people that he did not want to “waste” Narcan on her. This unconscionable behavior will earn him a lengthy prison sentence. We thank the Phoenixville Borough Police Department for their thorough investigation into this horrible tragedy and are grateful to the jury who delivered justice for this victim and her family.”
According to Assistant District Attorney Jessica Acito, on February 14, 2022, Phoenixville Borough Police Department responded to the 200 block of St. Mary’s Street for the report of a possible overdose after 911 received a call from the defendant. When police arrived, they found the victim dead on the floor of the defendant’s bedroom.
Police found an empty bag of fentanyl and two Xanax pills among the victim’s belongings in the defendant’s bedroom. Investigators discovered text messages between the victim and the defendant that indicated that the defendant supplied fentanyl and Xanax to her.
An autopsy of the victim showed that she died due to the combined toxic effects of Xanax, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
Investigators retrieved surveillance video near the defendant’s residence that showed the two arriving together in the early morning hours of February 13. This was the last time the victim was seen alive. Approximately 26 hours after the victim arrived, the video footage showed the defendant exit the residence at approximately 6:00 a.m., walk down the street, dispose evidence, and then call 911 while he stood on the sidewalk smoking a cigarette.
Witnesses reported that the defendant continued to ingest drugs after the victim had died and waited to call 911 because he was afraid of getting in trouble and had claimed “she wasn’t worth the Narcan.”
The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Phoenixville Borough Police Department and the Chester County Detectives. ADA Jessica Acito is prosecuting the case.
If you or anyone you know suffers from a substance use disorder, contact law enforcement for help. The Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) lets people with substance use disorders use local police to be connected to treatment at no cost.
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