Palm Coast man, 42, indicted on murder charge in fentanyl death
After a lengthy investigation, a Palm Coast man was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in a drug overdose death that occurred two years ago, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
A Flagler County grand jury Friday indicted Brian Pirraglia, 42, on a charge of first-degree murder by unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
The case began about 3:18 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2022, when deputies were dispatched to a home on Blasdell Court for a possible overdose death of a Palm Coast resident.
Pirraglia had sold drugs laced with fentanyl to the person, the sheriff’s office stated.
During the two-year investigation, led by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Detective Adam Gossett, investigators obtained arrest warrants on several related offenders and arrested a fugitive, the sheriff's office stated.
During part of the investigation, Pirraglia was in prison, stemming from a February 2023 sentencing on several charges, including possession of a controlled substance and heroin possession, less than 10 grams. Those charges stemmed from a cased related to the fatal overdose.
What happened the day of the overdose?
Pirraglia called 911 on Feb. 8, 2022, to say that his friend, 38-year-old Brian Oshea, was having a seizure at a home on Blasdell Court, according to an affidavit. Paramedics took Oshea to AdventHealth Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A woman who was also staying in the house said Pirraglia had knocked on her bedroom door asking for Narcan, which is used to reverse the effects of fentanyl.
Deputies found Oshea's cellphone in Pirraglia's bedroom as well as needles, paper towels and two spoons consistent with drug use, according to a charging affidavit. Pirraglia said there had been a "loaded spoon with fentanyl" in the room, the affidavit stated. He also said he did not know that there was still fentanyl in the room. Pirraglia had told deputies that Oshea did not have a cellphone, the affidavit stated.
Members of FCSO’s Major Case, Special Investigations and Crime Scene Investigations units, along with the Community Policing Division, Real Time Crime Center, and the State Attorney's Office Homicide Investigation Unit worked on the case.
Pirraglia was already in jail when he was served the indictment. He was jailed on a warrant for order to show cause – contempt of court.
"I want to commend all our units and everyone who was involved in this investigation for their hard work and persistence to bring this poison peddler to justice,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Years ago, I directed that all overdose deaths be investigated as a murder. If you are a drug dealer and sell a fatal dose of poison in Flagler County, even if it takes two years, we are going to get you. Hopefully, he will have a long time in state prison to think about the death he caused and the damage he has done to individuals and families selling his poison.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man indicted on murder charge in fentanyl death
