Saltsburg man sentenced to 6-12 years in prison for selling drugs that killed Derry woman

An Indiana County man will serve up to 12 years in prison for the sale of drugs to a Derry woman who died from an overdose a day after Christmas in 2016.

Dylan Blair, 24, of Saltsburg was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury in February of drug delivery resulting in death and two lesser offenses. Prosecutors during the three-day trial said Blair sold fentanyl-laced heroin to 38-year-old Michelle Spillar two days before she was found dead in a Derry home.

Witnesses said Blair was a one-time friend with one of Spillar’s sons and watched as she purchased the drugs that he said were potent and caused him to twice overdose.

Blair did not testify during his trial but in court on Thursday offered an apology to the Spillar family, according to defense attorney Emily Smarto.

“He said she was like a mother to him as well,” Smarto said.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Blair to serve six to 12 years in prison. The defense asked that Blair, because he had no prior criminal record, be eligible for parole in four years.

Spillar’s family, including her three adult sons, did not testify during Thursday’s sentencing hearing.

At trial, the defense argued that Spillar died from a mixture of drugs but presented no evidence to support that claim.

Smarto also challenged the police investigation that linked the fentanyl-laced heroin to drugs to Blair that police said caused Spillar’s fatal overdose. Spillar’s roommate testified at trial that both he and Spillar purchased from Blair small stamp bags marked with the words “Head Games” and a picture of a skull and soccer ball.

Prosecutors said one empty and two full stamp bags were found next to Spillar’s body.