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Western Mass Man Gave Woman Laced Drugs Leading To Her Overdose: DA

A Westfield man is accused of causing a woman's death after he sold her a drug stronger than fentanyl, but told her it was far less harmful, authorities said. 

Police tape

Police tape

Photo Credit: Unsplash/David von Diemar @davidvondiemar

Christopher Halla, 42, is charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the death of a 57-year-old South Hadley woman in May, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. 

Investigators allege the woman tried to buy oxycodone from Halla, but he gave her a pill laced with metonitazene, a synthetic opioid far more potent than fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of the opioid overdose epidemic across the country. 

State Police bought metonitazene from Halla in an undercover sting after the woman's death, the prosecutor said. He was previously charged with possession with intent to distribute Class-A drug, the prosecutor added. 

The woman's name was not released. 

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