2 facing felony drug charges in Ferguson Township corpse case
Corrine Pena, 35, was found dead Feb. 14, 2016 along Plainfield Road in Ferguson Township.
Now, two people are facing felony charges related to the overdose that killed her.
In an evening news conference at the Ferguson Township police station, District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller announced that a county investigating grand jury recommended bringing felony charges against Sabine Graham and Maria Gilligan. Both face a charge of drug delivery resulting in death — a first-degree felony.
“Any time we have an overdose, that person is in fact a crime victim,” Parks Miller said, flanked by township police Chief Diane Conrad. “In this case, (police) were also able to determine the person who gave her the drugs that night ... was a very active dealer.”
After Pena’s body was found, according to a release by Parks Miller, Maria Gilligan told police she was with Pena the day prior to her death. Pena had reportedly reached out to Gilligan, asking for help to purchase heroin.
Graham allegedly took Gilligan and Pena to Lock Haven, where they obtained the heroin, the release said. Pena ingested eight doses of what she believed to be heroin.
Toxicology results revealed Pena had unknowingly taken a fatal dose of fentanyl, the release said.
Grand jury testimony revealed Graham had dealt in heroin in the past, the release said, and made drug runs to Williamsport to bring heroin into the county. A witness reportedly told the grand jury that Graham had also confessed to being responsible for two overdoses, including Pena’s.
According to the grand jury presentment, recommended charges against Graham include the felony drug delivery charge and five felony counts each of possession with intent to deliver and delivery of a controlled substance to Pena and other redacted names. Three accomplice felony counts were recommended against Gilligan, including delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and delivery of a controlled substance.
Graham has been arrested and will be arraigned at 10 p.m. Tuesday. Police have obtained a warrant for Gilligan’s arrest, and believe she is in Centre County.
Pena was discovered along Plainfield Road in the early morning hours that February. Robert Moir, 60, of Patton Township, said had met Pena in the Philadelphia area and brought her back to Centre County.
He said he had discovered her body in his bathroom, driven her to Ferguson Township and placed her alongside the road. He was found guilty of abuse of a corpse in December 2016.
This story was originally published April 11, 2017 at 8:09 PM with the headline "2 facing felony drug charges in Ferguson Township corpse case."