Philly Man Sold Fentanyl Dose That Killed Montco Man: Authorities

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man has been charged in connection with the drug overdose death of a Montgomery County man, according to authorities.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Hatfield Township Police Chief William Tierney said Derrick Jackson, 58, of Philadelphia, has been arrested and charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, recklessly endangering another person, and related crimes.

Jackson was charged in connection with the death of 49-year-old Jason Evans, who died on Sept. 30, 2020 in Hatfield.

On that date, police were called to an apartment on Penn Avenue in Hatfield for a reported cardiac emergency, which was then amended to an overdose.

Officers and EMTs arrived to find Evans unresponsive in his bed.

Attempts were made to revive him, but they were unsuccessful, and Evans was pronounced dead. Police located small plastic bags, stamped BAD BUNNY, that contained blue wax paper and a tan material, later determined to be heroin and fentanyl.

The ensuing joint investigation by Hatfield Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives found a deadly and near-deadly history involving BAD BUNNY stamped bags of heroin/fentanyl.

The investigation learned the victim had previously overdosed and survived on July 24, 2020 and Sept. 5, 2019, where BAD BUNNY heroin/fentanyl bags had been found.

BAD BUNNY heroin/fentanyl bags were also found at the scene of the non-fatal overdose of Rebecca Ennis on Sept. 13, 2019 and her fatal overdose on Dec. 1, 2019, both in her residence in Sellersville.

The investigation found that the BAD BUNNY baggies were being sold by Jackson, who was known to both Evans and Ennis’ boyfriend through their employment, authorities said.

BAD BUNNY bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl were also found by Philadelphia Police in Jackson’s car during a traffic stop on Dec. 14, 2019, according to authorities.

Through multiple interviews, cellphone information and video surveillance, detectives learned
that Evans purchased heroin/fentanyl from Jackson two days before his death, as well as purchased drugs from Jackson prior to his other non-fatal overdoses, authorities said.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on Evans’ body on Oct. 1, 2020.

Following the autopsy and the results of toxicology tests, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Kahlil S. Wardak opined that Evans died from a lethal dose of fentanyl and heroin in his system, and it was a direct and substantial factor in his death.

Jackson held after failing to post $250,000 bail.

His preliminary hearing is set for April 21.