Suspected Drug Dealer Arrested For Alleged Role In 27-Year-Old Man's Overdose Death

ELIZABETH, Pa. (KDKA) -- Two years after a 27-year-old man died of a drug overdose, police arrested his suspected drug dealer.

Melanie Sphar was taken into custody Wednesday evening by the Elizabeth Borough Police Department and is facing a number of felony charges, including drug delivery resulting in death.

The Allegheny County Narcotics division filed the charges Tuesday for her alleged role in the death of Ryan Evans.

According to the criminal complaint, Sphar admitted to police that she knew the drug was potent during her first interview back in August of 2017. Police said she also knew two others had overdosed from it before she eventually sold it to Evans.

Investigators say Spahr told police she warned her alleged buyers that the stamps of heroin were potent.

KDKA News was there on Wednesday when police officers escorted Sphar into a cop car. Sphar was silent when asked if she had anything to say to Evans' family.

Evans' mother told KDKA she has been praying for this day to come and is thankful an arrest has finally been made.

"A lot of anger that it took this long," Evans' mom Netta Goodrich said. "Everyday I post on Facebook, 'Justice for Ryan' and justice is finally here today. He was my youngest of three. He was smart, very handsome, athletic and he had a smile that would light up a room."

Sphar remains behind bars at the Allegheny County Jail.