Jury selection for the trial of Dylan Blair was scheduled to begin yesterday in Westmoreland County Court, but the Christopher Feliciani has granted a defense request for a two-month delay.
The 23-year-old Blair is from Saltsburg. He’s charged with drug delivery resulting in death along with three counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Investigators say he supplied a deadly mix of fentanyl and heroin that killed 38-year-old Michelle Spillar at her home in Derry on the day after Christmas, 2016. Her body was found next to her bed with an empty stamp bag and two full bags of heroin beside her.
Blair was tracked down by Westmoreland County detectives and captured at the Days Inn in Burrell Township in May of 2017. When the detectives entered Blair’s room, they found another man, Edward Russian of Saltsburg, in the midst of overdosing. Russian revived and eventually pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. Blair pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. Both were sentenced to one year probation.
Blair remains in the Westmoreland County Prison, unable to post $700,000 bond. The new trial date is August 5th.
