Maryland Secures First Murder Conviction in Fatal Overdose Case After Havre de Grace Man Pleads Guilty
HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland (WBAL) — In a landmark case for Maryland, a Havre de Grace man has become the first in the state to be convicted of murder in connection with a fatal overdose after pleading guilty on Friday.
According to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, 43-year-old Kusan Hines admitted to second-degree depraved heart murder and drug distribution charges stemming from an October incident in which a 33-year-old man died from fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.
During an interview with police, Hines acknowledged visiting the victim’s apartment to cook and smoke crack cocaine. The victim, seemingly unaware the drug contained fentanyl, began exhibiting unusual behavior. Hines left without calling for medical help.
The victim’s body was discovered after a handyman, unable to enter the apartment, saw him slumped over through a window. A medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as fentanyl and cocaine overdose, and investigators placed Hines at the scene the day before.
Hines received a 12-year prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised probation.
Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey emphasized the significance of the case, highlighting its role in setting a legal precedent for handling overdose-related deaths. She praised Assistant State’s Attorney Stuart Welch and the Harford County Drug Taskforce for their investigative efforts, stating this conviction paves the way for similar prosecutions in the future.
