Connellsville woman pleads guilty for role in fatal overdose

A Connellsville woman was ordered to serve seven years on probation for her role in the 2019 overdose death of a woman in Greensburg.

Marcia Lynn Shearer, 61, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy as Westmoreland County prosecutors dismissed a more serious charge of drug delivery resulting in death and two related offenses.

Shearer was one of three woman charged in connection with the fatal overdose of 59-year-old Roxanne Gongaware. Gongaware’s body was found near drug paraphernalia in the living room of her Harrison Avenue apartment.

“I’m very sorry this happened,” Shearer said. “I honestly can’t believe I let something like this happen.”

Police said Shearer and another woman, Janae Brown, 43, of Scottdale, drove to Avalon in Allegheny County to purchase heroin. According to court records, the women met with Shearer’s niece, Britnee R. Clark, who arranged the drug purchase from a man in McKees Rocks.

Brown brought six bags of the heroin to Gongaware, police said.

“My client’s involvement in this was minimal,” said defense attorney Pat Thomassey. “She was in the car but knew what was going on.”

Prosecutors confirmed in court on Monday that Shearer cooperated with the investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said standard state sentencing guidelines called for Shearer to receive a prison sentence of up to 27 months but recommended she serve an undetermined period on house arrest.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani said a drug test conducted before Monday’s plea hearing found no illegal substances in Shearer’s system.

The judge ordered a similar drug test before the March sentencing hearing for Clark, who pleaded guilty a month earlier to drug delivery resulting in death for her role in Gongaware’s overdose.

Clark, 41, of Avalon, insisted she was sober and no longer used drugs during her sentencing hearing, but tested positive for cocaine. Feliciani, who was expected to sentence Clark to house arrest and probation, ordered she serve nearly one to two years in jail after the failed drug test.

The case against Brown, who is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, is still pending, according to court records.