Montco Man Charged In 25-Year-Old's Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

POTTSTOWN, PA — A Pottstown man has been arrested after he sold a fatal dose of fentanyl to a local 25-year-old woman, authorities announced this week.

Blaise Rusek, 26, faces involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the incident.

An investigation revealed that back in January, the victim, Nadia Lopez, arranged to have Rusek travel to Philadelphia to procure heroin and fentanyl for her, police said.

Rusek then agreed to deliver the drugs to her home on Pinehurst Drive in Lower Pottsgrove, phone records show.

Police found Lopez unresponsive in the morning of Jan. 21 at her home, suffering from an overdose. She was taken by ambulance to Pottstown Hospital to be treated, but she passed away on Jan. 23.

Police found a bag labeled "Monkey Shines" at her home, known to be the packaging used for heroin and fentanyl. An autopsy from the Montgomery County Coroner's Office ruled on Jan. 25 that Lopez had died of fentanyl toxicity.

Rusek was charged on Aug. 14 with involuntary manslaughter, possession with intent to deliver, reckless endangerment, and related counts. He was arrested by Lower Pottsgrove Police on Aug. 27.

Bail was set at $500,000, which he did not post, and he was remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility.