MILFORD, PA- District Attorney Ray Tonkin announced the sentencing of two individuals for engaging in the selling of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Matamoras, PA. man.  Sarah Turner, age 34, of Matamoras, PA., was sentenced to 13 years to 26 years after pleading guilty to the charges of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver the controlled substance of fentanyl, and delivery of a controlled substance, fentanyl.  Brian McKnight age 30, of Milford, Pa. was sentenced to nine and a half years to 40 years after he pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit drug delivery resulting in death and criminal conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, fentanyl.  The case arose from the delivery of fentanyl that caused the death of John Hiatt, of Matamoras, on November 4, 2020.

A joint investigation between the Pennsylvania State Police Troop Vice Unit, The District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit and the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department determined Turner and McKnight were engaged in the sale of fentanyl in the Eastern Pike County area from 2019 through January 2021.  After the death of Hiatt, police found messages on Hiatt’s phone that describe the setting up of a drug sale from Turner the morning of November 4.  At the scene of Hiatt’s death, police discovered bags stamped “PTSD.”  Police conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Turner of a substance in bags stamped “PTSD”.  Police then arrested Turner and located additional bags of fentanyl stamped “PTSD” in a vehicle Turner arrived in at the meeting place to sell the bags of fentanyl. The bags were later found to have fentanyl and tramadol in them.  At the time of his death, Hiatt had both fentanyl and tramadol in his system.