Westfield man to face manslaughter charges for role in death of S. Hadley woman

Gavel and scales

Gavel and scales Creatas

Staff report

Published: 09-23-2024 6:02 PM

NORTHAMPTON — A Westfield man is being arraigned on manslaughter charges in Hampshire Superior Court for his role in the May death of a South Hadley woman, selling her a drug he claimed was oxycodone, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.

Christopher Halla, 42, is facing manslaughter and tampering with evidence charges in court Tuesday after being indicted by a Hampshire County grand jury.

The 57-year-old woman died on May 23.

The drug Halla allegedly sold to the victim actually contained metonitazene, a synthetic opioid the district attorney’s office says is far more potent than fentanyl. Fentanyl is the leading cause of the overdose epidemic nationally.

As part of the investigation into the victim’s death, the State Police Detective Unit attached to the Northwestern district attorney’s office and the Northwestern district attorney’s Anti-Crime Task Force conducted a controlled drug purchase from Halla using an undercover police officer. That resulted in the seizure of additional metonitazene pills.

Related to that incident, Halla was indicted for possession with intent to distribute class A substance by a Franklin County grand jury. The arraignment on that indictment is not yet scheduled.