SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. – Pennsylvania State Police in Schuylkill Haven, say Sean Hess, 23, of Auburn and Kaitlin Leibensperger, 22, of Pottsville are responsible for the heroin overdose death of Joseph Deleon, 19, last year.
According to charging documents Hess sold Deleon 10 bags of heroin and Leibensperger provided Deleon with needles. On the day of Deleon’s death the trio went to the Sheetz convenience store in the 1400 block of Kutztown Road and parked. Deleon and Leibensperger injected heroin. Deleon passed out shortly after the injection. When Hess returned to the vehicle they checked on Deleon and discovered that his vital signs were fading. They then moved Deleon into the back seat.
Hess drove Deleon’s vehicle to the Landingville Fire Company lot. Leibensperger called 911 and EMS arrived Deleon was pronounced dead at the scene. Results of autopsy performed at Lehigh Valley Hospital on November 22, 2014, determined that Deleon died from heroin toxicity.
Charges against Hess and Leibensperger include Drug Delivery Resulting in Death, Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, Involuntary Manslaughter, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence.
Following arraignment, the two were sent to Berks County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail.
