A Philadelphia woman is facing felony drug charges following a joint investigation by the Lower Gwynedd Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau into the fatal overdose of 38-year-old Vandaniel Gossett.
Jacqueline Kelly, 37, has been charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility, along with misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection Gossett’s death.
Lower Gwynedd Police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Darden Drive on Oct. 24, 2020 for a report of a drug overdose. On scene, police located the body of Gossett on a couch in the bedroom of the home, with various narcotics packages and paraphernalia located around his body, according to the criminal complaint.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office later determined that Gossett had died as a result of “drug intoxication,” specifically fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, according to the report.
A joint investigation was launched by the Lower Gwynedd Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, which lead to the discovery of communications between Kelly and Gossett in the hours prior to his death, the report states. Police said that Gossett paid Kelly for a bundle of heroin on Oct. 23, 2020, which Kelly then delivered to his home that evening.
During an interview with investigators on Feb. 25, Kelly reportedly admitted to selling Gossett the heroin and staying over at his home that evening, the report states. Kelly also stated that she had left the residence around 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2020, and added that Gossett appeared to be “falling asleep” on the couch that his body would later be found on, according to the report.
Kelly was arraigned on Thursday morning by Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard, who set bail at 10% of $5,000 cash. She was then taken to county jail after failing to post.
Kelly’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on April 22 at 10:30 a.m. in front of Judge Leonard.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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