A 29-year-old man has been admitted to supplying fentanyl to a 15-year-old Oakdale girl who later died, pleading guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter and drug delivery. The case, which began after the teen overdosed in May 2024 and never regained consciousness, has haunted her family, who say the loss has shattered their lives.
According to WTAE, Shakeirs Foster, 29, entered a guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter and drug delivery. Prosecutors said in court that under the plea agreement, he faces up to six years in state prison.
A press release from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General alleges Foster extorted the teen for sexual conduct in exchange for fentanyl. The office said an autopsy found recent fentanyl use was the cause of death and noted that its Drug Strike Force handled the investigation.
What the family said
Mia’s older sister Janessa told KDKA, “It feels like it’s just been a bad dream I can’t wake up from,” as reported by CBS Pittsburgh. The family has kept a memorial to Mia inside their home and says they hope speaking publicly about her death will raise awareness and reach others who may be struggling.
How investigators say it unfolded
The attorney general’s release states that the victim contacted Foster through social media while seeking drugs. Because she had little cash, Foster allegedly offered her fentanyl bags, stamped “MAFIA,” in exchange for sexual conduct, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Witnesses told investigators they saw a man later identified as Foster enter the girl’s apartment building on May 7, and she was later found unconscious and died.
Legal consequences
Prosecutors say the plea resolves the counts tied to the teen’s death and will lead to a state prison sentence under Pennsylvania’s sentencing rules. In a written statement, the family said, “The defendant did not just take one life; he destroyed the foundation of our family,” according to WTAE.
Why this matters
State health data show fentanyl remains the primary driver of overdose fatalities in Pennsylvania. The Department of Health’s 2024 data brief reports that fentanyl contributed to roughly 67% of fatal overdoses in 2024 and notes that many overdose deaths happen at home, underscoring how quickly these drugs can turn a private space deadly, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health…