Man gets at least 3 years in prison for overdose death of girlfriend

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County man is headed to prison for the overdose death of his girlfriend.

Daniel Masciotti, 34, pleaded guilty in court Thursday to Involuntary Manslaughter, Conspiracy to Deliver Heroin, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin.

Masciotti was sentenced to 3-6 years in prison.

On November 1, 2016, Masciotti and another person purchased 10 bags of heroin. They then picked up Alexandra Hammitt, Masciotti’s girlfriend, and drove to a home in New Hanover County. At Hammitt’s request, Masciotti injected Hammitt with two bags of heroin and he consumed four bags. Masciotti believed this heroin to be strong and was aware that Hammitt had previously overdosed.

Hammitt began to overdose following this injection. The owner of the home was on probation and he did not want law enforcement to respond, so Masciotti took Hammitt to an emergency room instead of calling 911. At the time, Hammitt was unconscious and unresponsive.

The New Hanover County Sherriff’s Office was notified of the overdose and responded to the hospital to interview Masciotti. He initially told law enforcement that he received a phone call from a female who said that Hammitt had overdosed was outside in the area of Torchwood Drive in Ogden. Masciotti said that he drove to the area, found her, and brought her to the ER. Law enforcement asked him to show them the phone call, but all he could show was an outgoing call. After being confronted about this, he said that she had consumed one bag of heroin at his grandmother’s house. Detectives questioned his grandmother and found this was not true. Finally, Masciotti admitted that he and another person purchased the heroin, picked up Hammitt, and then injected her and himself with the heroin. A search of the residence revealed drug paraphernalia, but not the baggies that Masciotti described. Detectives believed they were disposed in the time Masciotti was being untruthful with law enforcement.

Hammitt remained in a coma until November 4, 2016 when she died of an opiate overdose. Postmortem tests revealed that she had consumed both heroin and fentanyl.

“The Sheriff’s Office was crucial in this successful prosecution because they treated this case like a homicide investigation from the moment they become aware of it. If you inject another person with an opiate and they die from this, the law holds you responsible for their death. The fact that you also consumed the substance yourself does not absolve you of this: there is no doubt you are criminally responsible. Our office remains committed to use every tool in our tool box to save our community from the ravages of opiates and will prosecute those who contribute to the demise of others,” said Assistant District Attorney Timothy Severo.