{"id":247076,"date":"2026-07-19T10:27:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T10:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/247076\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T10:27:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T10:27:17","slug":"why-does-pennsylvania-treat-drug-overdoses-like-homicides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/247076\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does Pennsylvania treat drug overdoses like homicides?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After her son\u2019s fatal overdose, Cyndi Compton wanted action.<\/p>\n<p>She took to the streets of Tioga County, putting up signs in the rural community. They sent a clear message regarding Isaiah\u2019s death and others like it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is TIME WE hold DRUG DEALERS Accountable,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/459744278462949\/?rdid=xvbVADPABnzIvw55#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">read one<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsk your County District Attorney why Drug Dealers are getting away with MURDER,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/499485134488863\/?rdid=pSrSz8jylRYapB9z#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">read another.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>She searched for information that would help investigators and pushed for changes in her community and across the state. She became known as a relentless advocate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know how she kept on going,\u201d her husband, Thad Compton, said in court years later.<\/p>\n<p>Her search for justice offers a window into the complicated on-the-ground reality of treating overdoses like homicides.<\/p>\n<p>Some prosecutors, lawmakers, and families have embraced a criminal charge known as drug delivery resulting in death. The felony is punishable by up to 40 years in prison in Pennsylvania, and is used for cases when someone illegally provides drugs that cause someone to die \u2014 it includes both selling and giving.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A photo of a man in construction gear.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"1285\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456829_880_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    A grand jury presentment called Isaiah Compton&#8217;s death \u201coverdose-related\u201d and said it involved fentanyl, cocaine, and other substances.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the law, including families, defense attorneys, and public health advocates, have objected to its reach, saying the statute does more harm than good and frequently ensnares fellow drug-users instead of large-scale dealers.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania saw a dramatic increase in these charges, after a change in state law and the rise of the opioid epidemic. It is known as one of the top states, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthinjustice.org\/drug-induced-homicide\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">if not the leader<\/a>, for this type of prosecution.<\/p>\n<p>But prosecution rates vary widely between counties here. And compared to the total number of overdose deaths, charges and convictions remain relatively rare. What happens after a death can come down to how local law enforcement decides to approach these cases and the resources they have to investigate them.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/thumbnail.jpeg\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"map visualization\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In 2020 \u2014 the year Isaiah died \u2014 Pennsylvania had more than 5,100 overdose deaths.<\/p>\n<p>The same year, state court data show there were about 190 new drug delivery resulting in death charges filed.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, a grand jury investigation into Isaiah\u2019s death led to drug delivery-related charges against a person \u2014 Dayton Wood, now 29 years old. Wood wasn\u2019t a stranger to the family. He and Isaiah grew up in the same community. Years earlier, Thad coached both Isaiah and Wood in football.<\/p>\n<p>Wood was also charged following an investigation into another person\u2019s overdose death: Carl Sargent, who died in 2019, a year before Isaiah. Wood\u2019s defense attorney later described his client as friends with both Isaiah and Sargent.<\/p>\n<p>In both criminal cases, by the time Wood faced charges from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the two-year statute of limitations for drug delivery resulting in death had expired. He faced other counts.<\/p>\n<p>In October of last year, Cyndi was waiting for Isaiah\u2019s case to resolve. She wanted Wood to spend time in state prison \u2014 even if it was just a year.<\/p>\n<p>And there was something else she wanted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would love for him to tell me, \u2018I\u2019m sorry,\u2019\u201d she told Spotlight PA. \u201cBut I know that\u2019s probably not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connecting with others<\/p>\n<p>Near the front entrance to Cyndi and Thad\u2019s home in Mansfield borough, the family has set aside space to honor Isaiah, with photos, mementos, and his urn.<\/p>\n<p>When Cyndi, 62, thinks about Isaiah, she recalls how he had \u201cthe prettiest blue eyes,\u201d the ability to light up a room, and a good sense of humor. The former offensive lineman liked hands-on work, and became an accomplished arborist. He was comfortable climbing up high, cutting off branches, and taking trees down in sections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe loved it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Thad, 58, described years of grief. He regretted not taking a photo of Isaiah on \u201ca beautiful fall day\u201d they spent together, shortly before his death.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of Isaiah\u2019s death in October 2020, Thad worked as a county probation officer. He felt he had to distance himself from the investigation \u2014 he didn\u2019t want \u201canybody saying I was trying to influence\u201d anything, he told Spotlight PA. \u201cI just don\u2019t operate that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Cyndi became a public advocate. Her fight ultimately grew bigger than Isaiah\u2019s case, spreading across Tioga County.<\/p>\n<p>The rural community of about 41,000 residents lies in north-central Pennsylvania, bordering New York state. The county seat of Wellsboro is known for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsboropa.com\/index.php\/vacation-wellsboro\/planning-your-trip\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">charming downtown and gas-lit streets<\/a>. A local business chamber boasts the area has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails nearby, including<a href=\"https:\/\/wellsboropa.com\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\u00a0rugged mountain terrain<\/a>. The lumber industry has <a href=\"https:\/\/lumberheritage.org\/news-updates\/5929\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">historically been big for the county<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/agencies\/dcnr\/recreation\/where-to-go\/state-forests\/find-a-forest\/tioga#accordion-072fe8c80a-item-0f2e7c596c\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tioga State Forest<\/a> still hosts active timber harvests and natural gas drilling sites.<\/p>\n<p>Like many parts of Pennsylvania, this rural community saw a rise in overdose deaths as the opioid epidemic spread.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783331172_700_thumbnail.jpeg\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"chart visualization\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Rhonda Moore, mother of a Tioga County overdose victim, told Spotlight PA, the epidemic \u201cjust went crazy, crazy\u201d in the area. The death of her 23-year-old daughter, Jenna Moore, eventually led to a prosecution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was everywhere. \u2026 I live so far out in the woods, but it doesn\u2019t even matter,\u201d she said. \u201cIt finds you or they find it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>State court data show one drug delivery resulting in death prosecution and no convictions on the charge in the county from 2015 through 2020. The one time Cyndi found that it was charged locally \u2014 in a case<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pennlive.com\/news\/2017\/02\/da_explains_reason_not_to_purs.html\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">\u00a0involving the death of a newborn<\/a> \u2014 she didn\u2019t think it fit the definition of the crime.<\/p>\n<p>After Isaiah\u2019s death, she wrote a letter to the editor in a local paper, questioning why the district attorney and police weren\u2019t using the charge against drug dealers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith the rising number of overdose victims, I believe the law is very clear,\u201d she said in the 2020 letter. \u201cThese drug dealers must be prosecuted and held to the letter of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In January 2021, Cyndi created a Facebook group: \u201cNo More Victims of Overdose in Tioga County Pennsylvania.\u201d She described her attempts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/394863768284334\/?rdid=09weKbgiVme8Ftn4#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">contact<\/a> local leaders, pointed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/615682962869079\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">prosecutions<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/619213845849324\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">in other counties<\/a>, and criticized what she called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/412098313227546\/?rdid=Oo6g7CzBLFXVoTZn#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">plea deals \u201cfor drug dealers over and over and over again.\u201d<\/a> She also posted about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/333459998423287\/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">grief support meetings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Her messages resonated with others.<\/p>\n<p>Beverly Wesneski, the mother of an overdose victim, said the group connected her with people who had suffered a similar tragedy. \u201cWhen you\u2019re on there, you feel like somebody\u2019s listening to you,\u201d she told Spotlight PA.<\/p>\n<p>But by late 2022, time had run out in Isaiah\u2019s case for a drug delivery resulting in death charge under Pennsylvania law. The two-year statute of limitations was up.<\/p>\n<p>Challenges to prosecutions<\/p>\n<p>Some Pennsylvania prosecutors and lawmakers have raised concerns about the two-year time limit for bringing these drug delivery resulting in death cases.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A woman in a blazer poses for a photo.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"869\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456833_883_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>     Kelly Callihan is executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDistrict attorneys have come to us and said, \u2018That\u2019s just too short of a period of time sometimes for what these investigations entail,\u2019\u201d Kelly Callihan, executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, told Spotlight PA.<\/p>\n<p>She described several challenges to these prosecutions.<\/p>\n<p>Counties might not be able to afford to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlightpa.org\/statecollege\/2022\/10\/coroner-death-investigation-autopsy-rural-north-central-pennsylvania\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">autopsy every overdose death<\/a>. It can also be hard to prove that not only did someone deliver drugs \u2014 but that those specific drugs led to someone\u2019s death, especially when multiple substances are involved. Moreover, some agencies have less experience investigating these cases and fewer existing relationships with confidential informants.<\/p>\n<p>Another challenge can be overcoming some jury members\u2019 beliefs that the person who died assumed the risk by taking an illegal substance, according to Callihan. She said witnesses are generally uncooperative, and the investigations \u2014 particularly if they involve a grand jury \u2014 can be lengthy.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A man in a suit poses for a photo.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"1320\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456834_236_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Courtesy of Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus<\/p>\n<p>         State Rep. Dane Watro (R., Luzerne) wants to extend the statute of limitations for drug delivery resulting in death prosecutions.<\/p>\n<p>Callihan\u2019s organization supports legislation that would increase the statute of limitations to five years for these prosecutions to begin. That\u2019s the time period for a number of drug offenses, including possession with intent to deliver heroin or fentanyl. State Rep. Dane Watro (R., Luzerne), a lawmaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/house\/co-sponsorship\/memo?memoID=48204\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">pushing for the extension<\/a>, said it would address a \u201clegislative oversight.\u201d Citing district attorneys and their statewide association, he said the current time limit \u201chas hampered the prosecution of various serious cases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But on the other side of the courtroom, the idea causes concern.<\/p>\n<p>The Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania opposes expanding the state\u2019s crimes code, Executive Director Sara Jacobson told Spotlight PA. She said a \u201ccommonsense approach to improving\u201d the state\u2019s drug delivery resulting in death law \u201cwould add in clear protections for people who share and use drugs together, without extending the statute of limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amanda Jones, a private criminal defense attorney based in Dauphin County, told Spotlight PA that long prosecution windows cause multiple problems for defendants, including creating constant anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re living in years of uncertainty,\u201d said Jones, who has represented defendants in drug delivery resulting in death cases. \u201cYou can\u2019t move forward in your life because you have this hanging over your head.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A woman in a suit poses by an American flag.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"1232\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456835_175_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Photo of State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny).<\/p>\n<p>        State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) has backed legislation to limit the use of Pennsylvania\u2019s drug delivery resulting in death law.<\/p>\n<p>As time goes by, key witnesses might move away, become difficult to locate, be more reluctant to testify, or even die, according to Jones. She said it can also become harder for witnesses, including the people accused, to recall specific details of what happened \u2014 creating concerns about unreliable testimony.<\/p>\n<p>State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) has previously raised concerns about the state\u2019s drug delivery resulting in death law and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/house\/co-sponsorship\/memo?memoID=36767&amp;document=HB2720\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">backed legislation to limit its use<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She told Spotlight PA that because the law is broadly written, prosecutors use the charge to punish people \u201cwho co-use drugs with someone or who shared their drugs with someone and happened to survive.\u201d This can discourage people from calling for help that could save lives, she warned.<\/p>\n<p>Unless lawmakers narrow the scope of the law to target dealers, suppliers, and traffickers, Kinkead said \u201cextending or eliminating the statute of limitations is irresponsible and dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A man in a suit poses for a photo.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"1100\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456836_297_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Courtesy of Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus<\/p>\n<p>         Legislation from state Rep. Clint Owlett (R., Tioga) would make several changes to Pennsylvania\u2019s drug delivery resulting in death law.<\/p>\n<p>As of early June, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/legislation\/bills\/2025\/hb2279\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">different<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/legislation\/bills\/2025\/sb79\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">bills<\/a> to give Pennsylvania prosecutors more time to bring these cases all awaited action in state legislative committees. None had been brought up for a committee vote.<\/p>\n<p>That <a href=\"https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/legislation\/bills\/2025\/hb326\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">included legislation<\/a> named after Isaiah Compton. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Clint Owlett (R., Tioga), would eliminate the statute of limitations entirely following an overdose death.<\/p>\n<p>His bill would reduce other potential barriers to prosecution, including when multiple drugs are involved. But it also attempts to address concerns about the law being too broad and used against friends who share drugs. It would add a defense that Owlett says is meant to shield people \u201cwho are not dealing drugs in return for profit or services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cyndi has urged lawmakers to act on Owlett\u2019s legislation, saying the two-year limit has allowed people to evade accountability for deaths.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA Drug Dealer behind bars is much less likely to cause a Death,\u201d she wrote to lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>Frustration in the community<\/p>\n<p>In Tioga County, Cyndi focused on replacing the district attorney, Krista Deats. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiogapublishing.com\/the_wellsboro_mansfield_gazette\/news\/local\/deats-seeks-second-term-as-district-attorney\/article_7508e8e4-b683-5fc3-9da1-44097c5e8d4f.html\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Deats had worked in the office for years<\/a> and was first elected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiogacountypa.us\/getmedia\/58c1440a-3fc4-49f7-92db-b1fb7d63ff9a\/May-19-2015-Municipal-Primary-Election.pdf\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">position in 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Two women in a side-by-side photo.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"661\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456837_843_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Courtesy of Wellsboro Gazette, Olson<\/p>\n<p>         Incumbent Krista Deats, left, faced challenger Sandra Olson, right, in the Tioga County district attorney race in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>In February of 2023, Cyndi urged registered Republicans to sign a petition for Deats\u2019 challenger, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sungazette.com\/news\/top-news\/2023\/02\/attorney-seeks-republican-vote-in-tioga-county\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">attorney Sandra Olson<\/a>. The same month, news reports described charges against Travis Ott, a defendant in a Tioga County drug delivery resulting in death case. The victim in the case was 23-year-old Jenna Moore.<\/p>\n<p>For Cyndi, it was too little, too late. \u201cWhile this is fantastic news, let us not forget the 40+ people who lost their lives with no justice under Krista Deats\u2019 reign as District Attorney,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/858953615208678\/?rdid=yzVjXhCrF7bnDhDk#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">she wrote on Facebook<\/a>. \u201cAnd, surprise &#8211; it\u2019s election year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Politically, Tioga County is solidly Republican, and Olson and Deats were both competing for the GOP nomination. Ahead of the 2023 primary, there was no Democratic candidate for district attorney on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>During the campaign, both candidates identified drugs as a major issue in response to questions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiogapublishing.com\/the_wellsboro_mansfield_gazette\/community\/da-candidates-share-plans-if-elected\/article_afcad53c-ee0e-11ed-9c01-ab4f19069cda.html\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">for an article in the Wellsboro Gazette<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Deats wanted to continue \u201cthe push of prosecutions involving controlled substances in our communities,\u201d she said. She highlighted a county treatment court program, money seized through \u201cthe successful prosecution of many drug offenders,\u201d training for officers, and work in schools.<\/p>\n<p>Olson said she would \u201cfocus additional resources on the illegal drug epidemic,\u201d pledged to \u201csupport law enforcement with education and resources to bring drug dealers to account,\u201d and described speaking with mothers of children who died from an overdose. \u201cI will work diligently to address this issue on all fronts,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Olson ultimately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiogacountypa.us\/getmedia\/bc2ae472-7ae6-4714-a4e4-c8f74b10fe09\/May-16-2023-Municipal-Primary-Official-Results.pdf\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">swept both contests<\/a>, winning more than 61% of the Republican vote. For the Democrats, she received 335 write-in votes \u2014 enough for a victory there, as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was a sense that Deats was not performing the role the way they were supposed to. \u2026 People were dissatisfied,\u201d Gabe Hakvaag, chair of the local Democratic committee, told Spotlight PA.<\/p>\n<p>For Cyndi, it was a victory.<\/p>\n<p>That fall she celebrated another Tioga County drug delivery resulting in death charge, this time against defendant Jaden McGee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThings have changed so much in the last 3 years,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/987386422365396\/?rdid=nyqvs8f7FYH8oSYv#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">she wrote on Facebook<\/a>. \u201cBetter watch out drug dealers &#8211; they are coming after you too!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But securing a conviction on drug delivery resulting in death charges proved complicated in Tioga County.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A large stone and brick courthouse.\"  width=\"880\" height=\"660\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784456837_500_.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>     Securing a conviction on drug delivery resulting in death charges proved complicated in Tioga County.<\/p>\n<p>Different versions in court<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1UYT1ZL9Yv\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">As a candidate<\/a>, Olson highlighted a diverse background, including working as a registered nurse and an attorney, and serving as an ordained minister. During the campaign, she raised alarm about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rural.pa.gov\/download.cfm?file=Resources%2Ffact-sheets%2FOverdose+Fact+Sheet+2023.pdf&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawR5MGRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFFSkx1MjlKM05tTmVzQVp1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkARiting96C_VhxorGjXXMAP-YOeLujAnQn_OQ3K8KkmjxemH1cDP3bSXdB_aem_gcwRdTFVEpllo2vJh6newg\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">drug overdoses<\/a> in the county and the lack of prosecutions for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacourts.us\/news-and-statistics\/news\/news-detail\/1121\/drug-delivery-resulting-in-death-charges-in-pennsylvania?fbclid=IwY2xjawR5MH5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFFSkx1MjlKM05tTmVzQVp1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhl1QAY4HSWuloLkbS4df1F6Fwb2-GGwI_CzgEtVodb3og4TUBPBvphUKaTh_aem_XSDvBRT9WoytxRmF0-OocQ#:~:text=In%20Pennsylvania%2C%20a%20drug%20delivery,result%20of%20using%20the%20substance\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">drug delivery resulting in death<\/a>. She called the situation \u201ccompletely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe must fix this problem,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/394825464954831\/permalink\/867826617654711\/?rdid=Jgs86jnUfGuRmwOO#\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">she said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She took office with the Ott and McGee drug delivery resulting in death cases still pending. Both became early tests for Olson.<\/p>\n<p>Each case led to a plea deal, highlighting the challenging nature of bringing these types of charges and the different versions of events that can emerge in courtrooms.<\/p>\n<p>Transcripts obtained by Spotlight PA bear this out.<\/p>\n<p>In McGee\u2019s case, police accused her of delivering fentanyl that caused the death of 27-year-old Jaguar Gordon. In a criminal complaint, police cited Facebook messages and video surveillance footage as evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The district attorney\u2019s office, under Olson, ultimately dropped the charge of drug delivery resulting in death. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304017-jaden-mcgee-guilty-plea-transcript-held-7-22-2024\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">McGee pleaded guilty<\/a> to two felonies: criminal use of a communication facility and a possession with intent to deliver charge.<\/p>\n<p>At the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304004-jaden-mcgee-sentencing-transcript-held-8-19-2024-7\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">August 2024 sentencing hearing<\/a>, Olson argued for a tougher sentence than the standard range, saying McGee \u201cagreed that she delivered fentanyl to a victim and the victim died.\u201d The defense attorney argued otherwise, saying there was \u201cno indication that she sold him anything that day whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McGee received a prison sentence of at least 12 months \u2014 on top of a sentence she was already serving in another case, which Olson argued for. McGee also was given credit for time already served.<\/p>\n<p>In the other Tioga County drug delivery resulting in death case, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304018-travis-ott-alford-plea-transcript-held-7-10-2025\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ott<\/a> entered what\u2019s known as an Alford plea for voluntary manslaughter \u2014 he maintained his innocence but accepted the penalty. The district attorney\u2019s office dropped the drug delivery resulting in death charge.<\/p>\n<p>At the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304008-travis-ott-sentencing-transcript-held-7-14-2025-3\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">July 2025 sentencing<\/a>, Olson described how the death of Jenna Moore left behind two young children now being raised by Moore\u2019s mother, Rhonda. She also highlighted the number of Pennsylvanians who die each day from an overdose, and acknowledged the limits of putting one person in prison.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLaw enforcement is working diligently to find those who are selling the drugs and thwart their efforts, but prosecution is not going to solve this problem,\u201d she said. \u201cThe defendant, Mr. Ott, will be replaced by someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ott declined to make a statement at the hearing. He received a minimum sentence of over six years, with credit for time already served.<\/p>\n<p>The families continue to deal with the impact of the deaths.<\/p>\n<p>Gwendolyn Burdick, Gordon\u2019s mother, wanted a longer sentence in McGee\u2019s case. \u201cTwelve months is \u2014 it\u2019s a slap in the face when my son is dead,\u201d she told Spotlight PA.<\/p>\n<p>Rhonda Moore told Spotlight PA she doesn\u2019t know if she\u2019ll \u201cever be right again,\u201d following Jenna\u2019s death. She was relieved after Ott\u2019s conviction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI felt lucky that anything was done honestly, \u2019cause I\u2019ve known a lot of people around here that lost their children, and there was nothing,\u201d she said. \u201cThere was no justice at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Disappointment with the new DA<\/p>\n<p>The McGee plea deal frustrated Cyndi. She\u2019d spent a lot of time and energy helping get Olson elected, and thought things would be different.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKeep letting drug dealers off on lesser offenses&#8230;.. Exact same as the last DA,\u201d she posted online in August 2024. \u201cI am so very disappointed!!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She followed up with a simple message: \u201cDo you ever feel used?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Olson defended her record. She told Spotlight PA she\u2019s working to meet the goals she set during her campaign, and believes \u201cin a two-prong approach to prosecuting drug cases.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement must address both the supply of drugs and treatment for people addicted to substances, she said. She described herself as an advocate for treatment court programs, and said people who deliver drugs \u201con a regular basis and in large amounts must be prosecuted and sent to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Citing statewide data, she also said drug delivery resulting in death cases and convictions decreased from 2023 to 2024. The rise in the \u201cuse of methamphetamines instead of heroin and fentanyl which are more likely to cause overdose deaths\u201d may be a factor in the drop, she noted.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding plea deals, Olson considers \u201ca myriad of variables.\u201d She told Spotlight PA that Ott\u2019s sentence for voluntary manslaughter was consistent with a drug delivery resulting in death sentence, and said McGee received a state prison sentence. An additional drug delivery resulting in death case was filed in <a href=\"https:\/\/ujsportal.pacourts.us\/Report\/MdjDocketSheet?docketNumber=MJ-04302-CR-0000001-2026&amp;dnh=KKF8iCU%2B14MuzZ3f9Lq8HQ%3D%3D\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">early January in the county<\/a>, she added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince I have taken office, we have been diligently working on the drug issue in our county,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n<p>By last year, Cyndi was less critical of Olson. Reflecting back on her public comments on the McGee case, Cyndi talked about the toll of grief and told Spotlight PA, \u201cWhen I get down, I get way down \u2026 over these things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She recalled how, before Isaiah died, she worked with a parent who had lost a child. At the time, Cyndi was struck by how \u2014 even though the death occurred two years earlier \u2014 the loss remained vivid for the parent, as if it had just happened. That makes sense to Cyndi now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil you\u2019ve been in somebody else\u2019s shoes, you don\u2019t understand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Cyndi still wished McGee had faced a longer sentence. But she thought Olson was bringing attention to these issues and getting more done than the prior district attorney.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know her heart\u2019s in the right place,\u201d Cyndi said in October.<\/p>\n<p>Several months later, Cyndi said she admired Olson \u2014 and expressed a measure of regret over her earlier criticism of the current district attorney. \u201cIt\u2019s not an easy, cut-and-dry job,\u201d Cyndi said. \u201cAnd I should keep my mouth shut sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Charges years after 2 deaths<\/p>\n<p>Isaiah\u2019s case took a winding path to a conviction.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, criminal charges were filed in connection to his death, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiogapublishing.com\/the_wellsboro_mansfield_gazette\/news\/crime\/mansfield-district-court\/article_e30d28be-6393-11ee-b3ad-4f40eb4a5eea.html\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">court reporting in the Wellsboro Gazette<\/a>. It was not a drug delivery resulting in death case. The two-year statute of limitations had expired, meaning that charge wasn\u2019t an option. Records of that case are no longer publicly available.<\/p>\n<p>After taking office in 2024, Olson told Spotlight PA she reviewed outstanding cases and it was determined that \u201cthe Wood case\u201d would be better for the attorney general\u2019s office, using a statewide grand jury. She said she had to withdraw a Tioga County case for the statewide grand jury investigation to proceed.<\/p>\n<p>Grand juries can be a powerful tool. An attorney general office spokesperson noted they have \u201csubpoena power to compel testimony from otherwise reticent witnesses with key information about criminal conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, the attorney general\u2019s office charged Wood in connection to Sargent\u2019s death. The next year, the office charged Wood again, this time in connection to Isaiah\u2019s death. A grand jury presentment called Isaiah\u2019s death \u201coverdose-related\u201d and said it involved fentanyl, cocaine, and other substances.<\/p>\n<p>In both cases, evidence tied Wood to the victims\u2019 drug use. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304014-dayton-wood-presentment-carl-sargent\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sargent\u2019s case,<\/a> there were phone records, GPS tracking, and app payments of $100 and $160. In Isaiah\u2019s, there were Facebook messages, surveillance footage, an ATM receipt showing an $80 withdrawal, and multiple unnamed witnesses.<\/p>\n<p>One unnamed witness in Isaiah\u2019s case said Wood was their source of \u201cheroin\/fentanyl,\u201d that they had traveled with him to obtain drugs, and \u201cthat Wood was obtaining multiple bricks of heroin to distribute,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304010-dayton-wood-presentment-isaiah-compton\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the presentment said<\/a>. A brick usually has about five bundles \u2014 each with about 10 individual packets of \u201cheroin\/fentanyl,\u201d the unnamed witness said.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the same witness\u2019 testimony, the presentment attributed a direct statement to Wood after Isaiah\u2019s death: \u201cI just killed my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In each case, Wood did not face drug delivery resulting in death charges. The attorney general\u2019s office\u2019s \u201cfirst meetings with local investigators \u2014 who had jurisdiction over these cases \u2014 were multiple years beyond\u201d the two-year limit, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28220623-pennsylvania-office-of-attorney-general-responses\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">agency spokesperson Brett Hambright<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was state attorney general when Isaiah died, made a similar point, saying local authorities didn\u2019t reach out asking the office to intervene until 2024. Shapiro was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlightpa.org\/news\/2022\/11\/pa-governor-election-2022-results-winner-josh-shapiro-doug-mastriano\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">governor by then<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Deats, the former district attorney, did not respond to multiple calls, emails, and letters, requesting comment for this story. Robert Hoffa, Wood\u2019s attorney, declined to comment, and told Spotlight PA to \u201crefrain from contacting\u201d Wood or his family.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing what to say<\/p>\n<p>In early November, Wood accepted a deal in each case, pleading guilty to one felony in Sargent\u2019s case and two in Isaiah\u2019s. Other charges were dropped as part of the agreements.<\/p>\n<p>On the day of the guilty pleas, Cyndi and Thad sat in a large Tioga County courtroom. Thad had the feeling of just wanting \u201cto hear your kid\u2019s name connected to Dayton,\u201d he later recalled.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28303801-dayton-wood-11-3-2025-transcript-of-guilty-plea-proceedings-2\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">At the hearing<\/a> \u2014 as Wood answered yes to a series of questions from the judge \u2014 Wood acknowledged delivering cocaine to Isaiah and conspiring to deliver fentanyl and heroin to him.<\/p>\n<p>The parties agreed to a minimum two-year prison sentence, followed by five years of probation. Wood could be eligible for a drug treatment program while in prison, although the judge noted there were no guarantees he\u2019d qualify.<\/p>\n<p>After the guilty pleas in November, Isaiah\u2019s parents still wished Wood had been charged with drug delivery resulting in death before the two-year limit had passed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the only thing that is a little disappointing \u2014 is that it\u2019s not that,\u201d Thad said that day. \u201cBecause I do think that it needs to be used when it\u2019s appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Three months later, friends and family members of Cyndi and Thad showed up to the Tioga County courthouse for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28304003-dayton-wood-sentencing-transcript-held-2-2-2026\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wood\u2019s sentencing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On that February afternoon, Cyndi wore some of Isaiah\u2019s clothes: a green shirt and bright, patterned socks. In the courtroom, her sleeves were rolled up, making visible her tattoos in memory of Isaiah.<\/p>\n<p>When it was her turn to speak, she brought a framed photo of Isaiah up with her, and made a point to look at Wood.<\/p>\n<p>She described reading Facebook messages involving Wood and Isaiah, saying her son \u201cwas trying to help you with jobs and stuff.\u201d Isaiah had been drug-free for about a year and Wood knew he was \u201cvulnerable and in recovery,\u201d Cyndi said in court.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou did not simply sell drugs, you exploited trust,\u201d Cyndi told him. \u201cYou endangered a known recovering individual. You caused the death of my son.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thad started his remarks by thanking three people: the prosecutor, a state trooper, and his wife. \u201cWithout her, I know that we wouldn\u2019t be here today,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>Thad recalled coaching Wood and Isaiah in football when they were younger. They had good times \u2014 experiences Thad still holds onto, he said, despite the grief of the five years since his son\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p>The father told Wood that even though it was tough, he forgave him. Thad knew the prison stint would be painful, but wanted it to be a turning point for Wood. He hoped one day Wood would have children \u2014 and get to do the things that he was able to do with Isaiah.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wish you all the best,\u201d Thad said.<\/p>\n<p>Wood\u2019s attorney, Robert Hoffa, addressed the court and family members. He said his client \u201cdoes have deep, deep regret for what happened here and apologizes to all of you.\u201d He talked about how Wood was friends with both Isaiah Compton and Carl Sargent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate they were all three doing drugs together at various times,\u201d Hoffa said. \u201cHe was an addict as well, and he used the same drugs that, unfortunately, took the lives of those two individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wood had gone through rehabs multiple times, Hoffa said. \u201cHe wants to take responsibility, he wants to remain sober, and he wants to get on with his life,\u201d the attorney said.<\/p>\n<p>The judge then gave Wood a chance to speak.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Wood said, \u201cI just want to say to the families that I am deeply sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He talked about how he had to live with regret, had lost two best friends, and wanted to continue to improve his life. \u201cAgain, I want to say that I am deeply sorry,\u201d he said at the end.<\/p>\n<p>The judge issued the sentence in each case, consistent with the plea deals. Thad and Cyndi talked with friends and family members afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Later that day, away from the courthouse, they reflected on the case. The sentencing, Thad said, went as well as he thought it could have. He had once wondered if this day would ever come.<\/p>\n<p>Thad noticed Wood apologized twice, and Cyndi observed that when she looked over at Wood, he looked right back at her.<\/p>\n<p>Their remarks in court had differed. Thad said he forgave Wood, while Cyndi didn\u2019t mention forgiveness. She was, she said afterward, still working on that.<\/p>\n<p>As the months went by, some routines continued. Cyndi has been adjusting to the aftermath of a mini-stroke she suffered last year. She was taking new medications, eating healthier foods, and, she said, wanting \u201cto not get so worked up.\u201d She spends many days in the backyard shed where she works as a seamstress \u2014 tailoring dresses, costumes, and other projects for friends, family, and customers. A large piece of fabric showing Isaiah in a tree hangs on a wall, next to spools of thread. He would have turned 30 in March.<\/p>\n<p>She thinks about Wood too. In April, Cyndi learned he was transferred to a state prison that offers an intensive drug treatment program.<\/p>\n<p>She was glad, and hoped it would help keep Wood alive: \u201cI don\u2019t want his mom to go through what I\u2019ve been through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by Arnold Ventures and the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University | Medill.<\/p>\n<p>90.5 WESA partners with Spotlight PA, a collaborative, reader-funded newsroom producing accountability journalism for all of Pennsylvania. More at <a href=\"http:\/\/spotlightpa.org\/\" class=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">spotlightpa.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After her son\u2019s fatal overdose, Cyndi Compton wanted action. She took to the streets of Tioga County, putting&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":247077,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-247076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247076"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247076\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}