WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County Judge Carmody delivered a significant sentence on Monday, sentencing Christopher Barbuto, 41, of Phoenixville, PA, to 12-30 years in state prison. In September, Barbuto was convicted by a jury for supplying fentanyl and Xanax to Courtney Wilson, age 28, also from Phoenixville. His actions led to her tragic death, marking a chilling case of drug delivery resulting in death.
In August, Barbuto was charged with drug delivery resulting in death, tampering with physical evidence, and related charges for the death of the victim. Adding to the severity of the crime, he failed to call 911 for almost 24 hours after Wilson overdosed. He proceeded to clean up the crime scene and disposed of evidence prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan did not mince words while addressing the case. She stated, “The defendant gave the victim poison, failed to help her once she overdosed, and tried to cover it up. He allowed her to die and said, ‘She wasn’t worth the Narcan.’ This extreme indifference to the value of human life is reprehensible. We are extremely thankful to the Phoenixville Borough Police Department and the Chester County Detectives for their thorough investigation and for getting justice.”
According to Assistant District Attorney Jessica Acito, the Phoenixville Borough Police Department responded to the 200 block of St. Mary’s Street on February 14, 2022, following a report of a possible overdose after Barbuto finally called 911. Upon arrival, police found the lifeless body of Wilson on Barbuto’s bedroom floor.
Further investigations revealed an empty bag of fentanyl and two Xanax pills among Wilson’s belongings in Barbuto’s bedroom. Text messages between Wilson and Barbuto indicated that he had supplied the deadly drugs to her. An autopsy confirmed that Wilson’s death was due to the combined toxic effects of Xanax, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
Surveillance footage near Barbuto’s residence showed the two arriving together in the early morning hours of February 13, 2022. This was the last time Wilson was seen alive. Approximately 26 hours after Wilson arrived, the video footage showed Barbuto exiting his residence at around 6:00 a.m., walking down the street to dispose of evidence, and then finally calling 911 while standing on the sidewalk.
Witnesses further reported that Barbuto continued to ingest drugs after Wilson had died. They also heard him say, “she wasn’t worth the Narcan,” indicating a chilling disregard for Wilson’s life.
The Phoenixville Borough Police Department and the Chester County Detectives carried out the investigation. ADA Jessica Acito served as the assigned prosecutor.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug abuse and the importance of swift and thorough law enforcement work in bringing justice to victims and their families.
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. To find more information on the LETI program click here.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.