WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A New Hanover County man has been charged with second-degree murder in the heroin overdose of his girlfriend, along with the man who is accused of supplying the drug, according to authorities.RELATED: Young NC mom dies of heroin overdose, drug supplier charged with murder
The alleged boyfriend, Daniel Lees Masciotti, 33, and Jonathan Alan Foster, 28, were charged with second-degree murder of Alexandra Hammitt, 24, Thursday. They had been in jail on drug charges since last week.
Bonds for both men were increased to $2.25 million each with the new charge.CLICK FOR MUGSHOTS FROM ACROSS NC
“We have got to do something about this madness, this heroin epidemic in our community,” New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said Thursday afternoon.
Foster and Masciotti were arrested by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 10 and charged with selling or delivering heroin, possession with the intent to manufacture/sell/deliver heroin and conspiracy to sell/deliver heroin.
According to authorities, Masciotti took Hammitt to the emergency department in Porters Neck two weeks ago, where she died after several attempts to revive her.RELATED: Two arrested in NC on heroin charges, bonds set at $1.5 million
New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David said in a Thursday news conference that it’s time to stop blaming the victims and focusing on those responsible.
“Anyone who thinks drugs are a victimless crime has not met the Hammitt family,” David said. “Not all overdose cases are eligible for this type of punishment. We are going to continue to be very selective.”
Masciotti and Foster are due in court for a first appearance Friday at 2 p.m.
These type of cases are a bit of a rarity in southeastern North Carolina.
Aquan De’Shae Richardson, 25, was charged in September with second-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Joshua McBride who passed away from a heroin overdose.
This marked the first time in nearly 20 years that the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office charged a suspected drug dealer with murder in connection to an overdose death.