For Immediate Release
June 25, 2024
A Kansas City man who sold and delivered drugs to a woman who died soon after she ingested them faces felony charges in connection with her death, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Vincent Scarcello faces Murder in the 2nd Degree and Delivery of a Controlled Substance.*
The Murder in the 2nd Degree charge, often known as Felony Murder, is based on the fact that the victim died of a fentanyl overdose that resulted from defendant's perpetration of the Class C felony of Delivery of a Controlled Substance.*
According to court records unsealed today, on May 3, 2024, Kansas City police were dispatched to a residence in the area of 53rd and Park Avenue. Emergency responders found the victim deceased inside. She was discovered by a witness who arrived home from work later that evening. The Jackson County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl and Ethanol intoxication.
Next to the deceased victim detectives found a half-opened box of Narcan in a failed attempt to save her own life, according to court records. Pills found inside the residence tested positive for fentanyl. The investigation found the victim had been in communication with "Vince Scarcello" on May 3, 2024. They made agreement for him to deliver "blues" to her residence, "Blues" are a common name for blue M-30 pills containing fentanyl. Video surveillance from the residence where the victim was found deceased showed the victim walking to a distinctive black sedan on May 3, 2024. She gets into the vehicle, which matched the description of the defendant's vehicle. A short time later, the victim dies from an overdose of fentanyl.
Further surveillance of the defendant appears to show multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions with cars near his Raytown home.
“This office has steered investigations toward dealers who cause such great harm in our community,” Prosecutor Baker said. “This defendant’s conduct will be aggressively pursued through the criminal justice system.”
The defendant was taken into custody this morning. Prosecutors requested a $150,000 cash bond.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
(816) 881-3812
(816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.