South Connellsville man charged with selling fentanyl that caused girlfriend’s death
A South Connellsville man is behind bars without bail for allegedly selling fentanyl to his girlfriend, who fatally overdosed.
Jason Paul Stasko, 40, of Second Street is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession with intent to deliver in the Nov. 15 death of 38-year-old Carrie Lynn Mingringo of Dunbar.
Connellsville Police and Fayette EMS were called to 415 Highland Ave. at about 6 a.m. that day, after Lauren Greenlee called 911 saying she found her friend unresponsive on the kitchen floor. She told a dispatcher they were attempting CPR, and police and EMS attempted to revive the woman. First responders were unable to resuscitate Mingringo. A syringe was under her body. Police found Stasko on a couch, covered with a blanket.
Autopsy and toxicology results determined Mingringo died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a drug often used as a heroin substitute, or to cut heroin.
When police attempted to interview the three people who were in the home when Mingringo died, they learned Stasko fled the scene. Greenlee told police she picked up Mingringo from her home in Dunbar at about 9 the night before. Greenlee’s boyfriend, Travis Porterfield, came home from work at about 2 a.m. The couple stayed downstairs with Mingringo until about 3:15 a.m. Porterfield said he heard Mingringo on the phone with a man, asking if he was coming over. Greenlee told police she stayed upstairs until about 6 a.m. when she went to the kitchen for a drink, and found her friend on the floor and Stasko on the couch.
Further investigation into cellphone records revealed Mingringo and Stasko were in contact until she was found unresponsive. They began a phone call at 3:14 a.m., which did not end until 6 a.m., three minutes after she was found. Police found text messages on Stasko’s phone where he appeared to be looking for heroin. At about 11:30 p.m. Nov. 14 he texted Mingringo “I just found that stuff you wanted.”
Stasko was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before on-call Magisterial District Judge Michael Metros, who denied bail in the case. Charges were filed before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. Stasko’s preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 20 before Metros.
Stasko is no stranger to the law. He has two active cases filed in November for possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement. In May, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance following a traffic stop in Connellsville. He is awaiting sentencing in that case. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver and one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to serve 9 to 24 months in prison.