Trial begins for Greensburg man accused in nephew's overdose death

Daniel Rebosky insisted to a Westmoreland County jury on Tuesday that his son, Christopher, was not a drug addict.

“He had a routine. He’d get up, go to church. He was a true believer and was someone who never missed a family event. He hosted dinners at this home and was very family-oriented,” Rebosky told jurors in the first day of a trial for his brother, Michael.

Prosecutors contend Michael Rebosky, 59, supplied a fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin to his nephew during the younger man’s visit to Greensburg in October 2021.

Christopher Rebosky, 38, of Ohio died from an overdose after spending a drug-filled night with his uncle. Michael Rebosky is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, reckless endangerment and related offenses in connection with his nephew’s fatal overdose.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Reddy told jurors that, were it not for Michael Rebosky’s actions, his nephew might still be alive. Rebosky initially lied to police about his involvement in the overdose but later confessed that he purchased the drugs the two men shared.

Christopher Rebosky almost immediately lost consciousness and could not be revived. He died two days later in a local hospital, according to the prosecution.

“He knows what he did,” Reddy said of Michael Rebosky in his opening statement to the jury. “The evidence shows, but for the defendant giving Christopher drugs, he would not have died.”

Reddy told jurors Michael Rebosky initially told investigators his nephew supplied the fatal drugs, pulling one stamp bag out from his wallet and consuming it himself. After police found evidence that allegedly links Michael Rebosky with the drugs purchase, he confessed, Reddy said.

Shawna Gaffey of Greensburg testified she paid Michael Rebosky $30 for crack cocaine on the night of the overdose.

“I gave Mike the money and he left,” Gaffey testified.

Prosecutors contend Rebosky took that cash and used it to purchase the drugs he shared with his nephew.

Defense attorney Emily Smarto suggested Christopher Rebosky had numerous drugs in his system when he died and said evidence will show the fentanyl-laced heroin cannot be solely blamed for the overdose. Her client, she said, was not a drug dealer.

“This (drug delivery resulting in death) law was enacted so that high-level drug dealers are not killing people with fentanyl,” Smarto told jurors. “That dealer is nowhere to be found, and they want you to blame Mr. Rebosky.

“Two people suffered for doing those drugs, and now they’re going to put him on trial, like he hasn’t suffered enough.”

Daniel Rebosky testified he still can’t comprehend the death of his son. He said his son several years earlier had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but then he saw his condition improve even as his emotional level had regressed to that of a teenager amid his struggles.

He said he learned of his son’s overdose after he had been declared brain dead and his body was prepared for organ donation.

“He didn’t drink much and didn’t use hard drugs,” Daniel Rebosky testified. “He lived with me most of his adult life, and I was shocked when I heard how he died. If he was any kind of drug addict, they certainly wouldn’t have harvested his organs.”

Michael Rebosky’s trial will continue Wednesday.