LANCASTER, Pa. — A Montgomery County woman pleaded guilty this week to delivering the drugs that killed a Lancaster County overdose victim in 2022, prosecutors said Thursday.
Valerie Benatti, 29, of Harleysville, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug delivery resulting in death before Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker on Wednesday, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Reinaker will impose sentence at a later date, the DA's Office said.
According to State Police, Benatti was tied to the overdose death of a 56-year-old Conestoga Township man whose body was found in a home on the 100 block of Slackwater Road on August 20, 2022. Investigators used cell phone data and witness statements to determine that Benatti provided fentanyl to the victim prior to his death.
An autopsy determined the victim died of acute fentanyl toxicity.
Benatti admitted to providing the lethal fentanyl to the victim in subsequent interviews with police, prosecutors said.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman is prosecuting the case.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Noah Robinson filed charges.
