Chester County Meth Dealer Who Burned Stillborn Corpse Sentenced

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A Honey Brook meth dealer who burned his stillborn child in a barrel has been sentenced to six to 12 years for abuse of a corpse, concealing the death of a child, and charges related to selling methamphetamine.

William E. Jones, 51, pleaded guilty last week to a list of charges and was sentenced on Friday, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

Jones and his girlfriend Anita Depedro, 31, of Muncy, Pa., sold methamphetamine from a Chester County trailer park before they were charged in October 2019. An investigation began in March 2019 when an anonymous tip to Chester County Children and Youth Services detailed how Depedro had given birth at her home on Egan Circle in Honey Brook, authorities said. The tipster said that Jones had put the stillborn body in barrel, burned it, and then buried the remains in an unmarked grave in an unknown location.

As authorities investigated that case, a confidential informant purchased methamphetamine from the couple on several occasions between June and August, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

Police said the proceeding investigation included numerous interviews, social media searches, a review of Children and Youth Services records, and a search warrant at the trailer in Honey Brook.

Despite an extensive search, the remains of the child were not immediately recovered, authorities said.

Jones pleaded guilty last week to abuse of a corpse and concealing the death of a child as well as to manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, according to court records.

Depedro also faced charges of conspiracy in the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and other drug felonies.

Justin Heinze contributed to this report.

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