Police charge man in North Fayette teen's fentanyl death

An Aliquippa man extorted a North Fayette ninth grader for “sexual conduct” last year in exchange for fentanyl, which killed her, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.

Shakeirs Deveye Foster, 28, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the May 14, 2024, death of Mia Pepper, 15.

She is identified by authorities as M.P.

North Fayette police charged Foster with several crimes including drug delivery resulting in death and sexual extortion.

The charges stemmed from an investigation by the attorney general’s office, North Fayette police and a statewide investigating grand jury.

Mia, a West Allegheny High School freshman who grew up in Venango County, had started texting Foster through Facebook Messenger in April 2024, a grand jury presentment said. The grand jury said she passed herself off as 19.

After weeks of the pair talking about drugs and “various sexual acts,” Foster sent Mia a photo on May 7: five bundles of stamp bags marked “MAFIA,” the presentment said.

Mia told Foster she had only $15.

“It probably could be cheaper if you get nasty,” he texted in response, according to the grand jury.

About 90 minutes later, around 3:40 p.m., Foster came to the teen’s North Fayette home, the complaint said.

Police said the teen sent Foster $15 through a cellphone app at 3:49 p.m. Mia’s father, who told police he was at work, had sent his daughter $15 earlier that day.

Foster left the home in a black sedan at 3:50 p.m., roughly 10 minutes after he arrived, surveillance footage shows, according to the grand jury.

After using the drugs, Mia laid down on a bed near where her 12-year-old brother and the brother’s friend were playing video games, the presentment said.

Within minutes, she had turned blue. The boys ran to a neighbor, who administered Narcan, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, and began CPR. Both were unsuccessful.

First responders rushed the teen to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, but she never regained consciousness.

Her family took her off life support seven days later.

“This is a tragedy beyond words,” Sunday, the attorney general, said in a prepared statement. “To be clear, this loss of life was directly caused by a predatory drug dealer who targeted a vulnerable child — and exploited her without a care for her wellbeing or worth as a person.”

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that “recent fentanyl use” caused Mia’s death, which was ruled an accident.

Mia’s brother later told police his older sister “smoked fetty,” the complaint said. He directed them to a purse where Mia hid her drugs.

The stamp bags marked “MAFIA,” found in that purse along with foil and a straw, later tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine, officials said.

“Mia Rose Pepper was loving, caring, smart, beautiful and the funniest girl you would have ever met,” the teen’s family wrote in an obituary posted online.

“I am heartbroken,” a woman named Terry Ruth added to the obituary. She said she had been Mia’s teacher for four years.

“I still have notes and pictures that she gave me over the years,” the teacher wrote. “You will never be forgotten, Sweet Girl.”

Officials from West Allegheny School District did not answer questions Wednesday about Mia. But they did thank the police.

“We commend law enforcement and investigators for their diligence in securing justice for Mia,” a spokeswoman said in a prepared comment.

Mia had lived much of her life in Oil City, Venango County, and attended middle school there, according to her obituary.

Her parents, who list home addresses in Oil City, and the North Fayette neighbor who performed CPR did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment.

The teen worked at a pizza shop and was looking forward to attending the prom the week of her death, her family said.

Mia’s friends and employees at the pizza shop did not return messages.

Foster was arraigned Wednesday and a district judge denied him bail. His preliminary hearing is April 14.

No attorney was listed in court records.