A Butler woman is being charged with felony voluntary manslaughter and other charges after police say a man overdosed from drugs she sold.

Katelyn Joy Messer, 30, was charged with one count of first-degree felony voluntary manslaughter, two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance and two felony counts of criminal use of communication facilities following her arrest Wednesday, May 20.

At 3:50 a.m. on June 4, 2024, Butler police were dispatched to a home in the 300 block of West Wayne Street for reports of an overdose. Fire department personnel administered naloxone to the man, who was later identified as Justin Woods.

Despite efforts by first responders, Woods was pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m.

A July 2024 toxicology report showed Woods had cocaine, fentanyl and diazepam in his system at the time of death. His cause of death was listed as a combined drug poisoning.

Police said Woods’ cellphone was seized by an officer on scene, who determined he was in contact with a phone number where he discussed purchasing drugs. Police said he also used Facebook Messenger, where police found a conversation between Woods and Messer where she provided the same phone number.

Police said the cellphone was given to the FBI, which managed to extract a long text-based conversation dated June 3 and 4 between Woods and Messer.

In the text conversation, Woods asked Messer for “tickets,” which investigators noted is a common name for heroin and fentanyl. Later that day, police said he asked for “more dips,” another term for heroin and fentanyl.

Police encountered Messer on July 7, where an officer advised her that they need to speak regarding the investigation. At the police department, police informed Messer that she was being investigated for a drug delivery resulting in death.

Police said she told them Woods was a friend, and that they smoked crack cocaine together on June 3. When police pressed her on the text conversation, she allegedly said “I didn’t kill my friend.”

According to police, she also told them she recently lost her phone.

Messer’s cellphone was later located by police, and Messer signed a Drug Enforcement Administration consent to search form for the phone. The same text messages were extracted by police.

When interviewed on July 18, Messer allegedly told police she previously sold heroin and fentanyl to Woods and confirmed he asked on June 3. Police said she initially denied providing Woods with “tickets” before stating she may have provided him with one or two stamp bags.

When pressed further, Messer requested to end the interview.

Messer’s preliminary hearing has been set for 11 a.m. on June 8 before District Judge William T. Fullerton.