A 23-year-old University of Massachusetts student died on May 8 due to what is believed to be a heroin overdose.
Darby Fassett, a Groton, Mass., native and resident of Hadley, was found unresponsive outside his home.
According to Hadley Chief of Police Dennis J. Huckowicz, police officers responded to a call at 11:52 p.m. stating that Fassett was unconscious on the ground outside of his Bay Road residence. According to court documents, police found him with four empty glassine bags marked "American Gangster," blue tablets believed to be Ecstasy and a spoon supposedly used for cooking the drug.
He was then transported to Cooley-Dickenson Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported on Saturday that police say Justin P. Morin, 20, of 20 Jackson St., second floor, Northampton, allegedly sold Fassett the heroin. Police used Fassett's cell phone to text message Morin who was arraigned in Northampton District Court on a charge of distribution of a class A substance on Thursday. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $1,000 bail. He has since been charged in connection to Fassett's death.
It was reported that police used Fassett's phone to communicate with Morin. During an interview with police, Morin said he gave Fassett five bags of heroin for $100.
Fassett transferred to the University in 2006 and worked as a cashier at Whole Foods Market on Russell St. in Hadley.
In an e-mail to undergraduate students, Dean of Students Jo-Anne Vanin extended the University's sympathy to Fassett's parents, family and friends.
William McGuinness can be reached at wmcguinn@gmail.com.
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