48°
Elias Santiago pleaded guilty in December to two counts of strict liability drug-inducted death, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old were discovered unresponsive by one of their father’s at a home in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Platkin said. The teenagers were taken to a hospital in Delaware where they were pronounced dead, Platkin said. Autopsies determined they died of fentanyl ingestion, Platkin said.
Detectives from the Pennsylvania State Police found additional pills in a backpack in the bedroom where the children were located and it was found to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine, Platkin said.
An investigation revealed one of the teens purchased what he thought was Percocet from Santiago in Sea Isle City, Platkin said.
Santiago operated a group on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram called “BaldysRUS,” which displayed pictures, videos, and different prices of controlled dangerous substances available for sale from his home in Egg Harbor Township, Platkin said.
A search of Santiago’s home turned up counterfeit pills, Platkin said, and in his guilty plea, Santiago admitted to selling the pills that killed the two teens.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Sewell-Mantua and receive free news updates.
