Norristown Man Among 2 Charged In Fatal KOP Overdose

NORRISTOWN, PA — Two men have been charged with drug delivery resulting in death following the fatal overdose of a woman in July in King of Prussia.

The incident occurred on July 1 at the Motel 6 on 815 W. Dekalb Pike, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Sherri Bilella, 53, was found dead with two empty needles beside her in her room. Testing showed that she died from an overdose of the opioid fentanyl and xylatine, a veterinary sedative used on large animals like cattle or horses.

Xylatine has "emerged recently" as a deadly cutting agent used by opioid dealers, officials said.

An investigation revealed that John Manetta, 38, of Clearwater, Florida, had delivered the fatal dose to Bilella.

Police then discovered that Bilella had traveled to Norristown in order to purchase that fatal dose from Norristown resident Tracy C. Crabbe Jr., 39.

Over the next week in July, authorities conducted undercover buys of suspected heroin from Crabbe, and ultimately arrested him after he fled inside a local home on July 8.

While Crabbe sold bundles of what he purported to be heroin — bags marked 'Gucci' — testing showed most of the bags contained lethal mixtures of fentanyl, xylatine, valeryl fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Crabbe has been incarcerated at Montgomery County Correctional Facility since July, and no bail was allowed. Manetta was arrested Oct. 10 at $50,000 bail, and was remanded to the the Correctional Facility as well.

Both men face drug delivery resulting in death charges. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 24.