CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Erica Haas and Kelvis Dula pleaded guilty Monday in the overdose deaths of two women, including a teenager, officials said.
Haas and Dula bought heroin laced with fentanyl in Charlotte and brought it back to Caldwell County. Prosecutors said fentanyl led to scores of overdoses, including the deaths of 10 people including Hanna Kincaid, 20.
Kincaid’s mother fought back tears as Haas pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter before being sentenced to nearly six years in prison. Moments later, Dula pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the overdose death of 18-year-old Madison Workman.
Workman’s mother, Amber DelVechio, approached the judge and handed him a packet of salt, asking him to put two grains of it on his finger, which was the amount of fentanyl that killed Madison.
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“All it took to kill our beautiful, smart, funny, talented, loving, amazing Madison,” DelVechio said.
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Dula was sentenced to 10 years of prison time.
“I feel like this is going to have a profound effect in this community and beyond,” DelVechio said. “If these dealers know that they’re selling in death, they need to be held accountable.”
Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones had a message for anyone selling fentanyl and heroin.
“We’re going to continue to pursue these cases,” Jones said. “If you’re going to deal drugs that (are) going to kill people, we’re going to prosecute you.”
DelVechio said she would like to meet with Dula in prison to forgive him. She believes what the area really needs is more recovery programs for those dealing with addiction.