BETHLEHEM, Pa. | The Bethlehem man charged with providing a fatal dose of fentanyl was involved in a similar overdose death two years ago, according to investigators.
Bethlehem police on Monday charged Tomas Santos in connection with the overdose death of a 29-year-old woman in a Wawa parking lot in March. He faces single felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and possession with intent to deliver.
On March 29, police were dispatched to the Wawa at 741 East Broad St. for a report of an unresponsive woman in a vehicle in the parking lot. Authorities said the woman died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. During a search of the vehicle, investigators collected the woman’s cell phone and found a small blue pill in a baggie in her purse.
Wawa security footage reportedly shows the woman pull into the parking lot about 5 p.m. the day before she was found, according to court records. A red Ford Focus pulled up to a gas pump a short time later, and the woman stood at the car for about 30 seconds during which time she reached into the open window before walking back to her car.
A search of the victim’s cell phone allegedly revealed a text conversation with Santos about buying drugs, including him telling her he had, “Blues the good one u like,” according to records.
A check of Bethlehem Police Department records revealed that Santos was involved in a 2018 overdose death involving pills that were fentanyl disguised as Oxycodone, according to the criminal complaint. He allegedly admitted to a detective that he struggled with addiction and sold pills to the person who overdosed. Court records do not indicate that he faced criminal charges in relation to that overdose.
Investigators said the pills in each overdose were small, blue pills marked with an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other.
Investigators secured a search warrant on Monday and stopped the red Ford Focus near Santos’ East Sixth Street home. Authorities said Santos had drug paraphernalia and found paraphernalia in the car. During an interview with police, Santos allegedly told police that the car seen in surveillance footage was his father’s and admitted giving the victim fentanyl pills.
Authorities said he knew the woman from high school and that she struggled with opioid addiction.
Following his arraignment Monday night, Santos was sent to Northampton County Prison to await a preliminary hearing after failing to post $75,000 bail.