Phoenixville Man Convicted In Drug Death of Pregnant Girlfriend

PHOENIXVILLE, PA —A 40-year-old Phoenixville man was convicted Thursday by a jury in the Chester County Justice Center of supplying a fatal dose of drugs to his pregnant girlfriend on Valentine’s Day 2022.

Christopher Barbuto was accused of giving his former girlfriend Courtney Wilson, 28, alprazolam, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in his Phoenixville home.

Barbuto was returned to Chester County Prison in lieu of $300,000 bail to await sentencing by Judge Patrick Carmody on charges of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and related offenses.

Wilson died as a result of the combined toxic effects of alprazolam, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, according to an autopsy conducted by the Chester County coroner’s office.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said that witnesses told police that Barbuto did not want to “waste” Narcan, a spray used to treat opioid overdose, on his girlfriend.

“He unlawfully disposed of the remaining drugs and other evidence and waited several hours before calling 911,” the district attorney said.

Drug delivery resulting in death carries a sentence of 20 to 40 years in state prison, according to the state sentencing guidelines.

Phoenixville police responded to the 200 block of St. Mary’s Street for the report of a possible overdose after 911 received a call from the defendant. When police arrived, they found the victim dead at the scene.

Subsequently, police found text messages between the victim and defendant on a phone that indicated Barbuto was supplying the victim with heroin/fentanyl and Xanax.

There were a total of 49 cases of drug delivery resulting in death in Chester County reported from 2015 to 2019, according to a report provided by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.