'He Didn't Die By Accident:' Winchester Man Sentenced In Fentanyl Murder

WINCHESTER, CA — A Winchester man will spend 15 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of 30-year-old Calin Sender’s fentanyl-related death.

Quinn Aaron McKellips supplied a lethal dose of fentanyl to Sender in January 2020, according to a Riverside County District Attorney's Office news release. Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendant sold multiple types of narcotics to the victim over several months.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin spoke after the sentencing.

“The sale of fentanyl and the actions that lead to the death of another person have devastating,
far-reaching impacts,” Hestrin said. “These crimes shatter families and
communities, and we will continue to hold those responsible with full accountability here in
Riverside County.”

McKellips is to serve 15 years in state prison before he is eligible for parole. The court denied probation after stating that McKellips is a danger to the public if not in custody due to his past convictions for the sale of narcotics. The judge ordered him to pay restitution to the victim, an amount to be determined by the probation department.

During Friday's hearing, victim impact statements were read by several members of Sender’s family, including his cousin, Jessica Chapple.

“Calin didn’t die by accident. He died because someone decided that money was worth more than a human life,” Chapple said in her statement.

Defendants in similar cases have entered guilty pleas before reaching a jury trial, resulting in multiple convictions. McKellips’ case represents the second fentanyl-related murder conviction achieved through a jury trial in Riverside County, with less than 10 in California.

Jury trials require the prosecution to meet a high burden of proof, demonstrating the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, making this conviction particularly significant.

Deputy DA Jerry Pfohl of the Homicide Division prosecuted the case.

Additional information about the fentanyl epidemic and prosecutions in Riverside County
is available at: www.rivcoda.org and www.facesoffentanyl.net.