Feb 3, 2024 By Mike Jones 3 min read

A Dunkard Township man accused of selling drugs that killed a man in September will stand trial on all counts, including the unusual charge of homicide in which prosecutors hope to prove the suspect intentionally sold fentanyl-laced heroin that he knew could be deadly.

In addition to the criminal homicide charge, Roy Allen Keener was held for court by District Judge Lee Watson on felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and possession with intent to deliver following his preliminary hearing Friday morning at the Greene County Courthouse.

Keener, 44, is accused of selling fentanyl-laced heroin to 26-year-old Michael Palmer, who ingested the drugs on Sept. 1 and was later found dead in the bedroom of his Greensboro home.

Greene County District Attorney Brianna Vanata said Palmer was a heroin addict, but he had no idea he was receiving fentanyl when he purchased the drugs from Keener, which ultimately killed him. Vanata said they have evidence showing that Keener knew the heroin was laced with fentanyl, which prompted her office to take the additional step to pursue the homicide charge against him.

“In this situation, what the commonwealth is going to try to prove is Roy Keener intentionally sold fentanyl to the decedent knowing it was pure fentanyl, and that was not what Mr. Palmer was expecting,” Vanata said. “Keener knew he wasn’t giving (heroin) to him, and we have evidence of that we’ll back up in trial.”

Keener’s public defender, Marissa Stewart, said it was “outrageous” that her client is facing a homicide charge, and instead blamed Palmer’s death on the influx of deadly drugs pouring into the region.

“I think the real crime here is that the government is letting fentanyl infiltrate Greene County. It’s coming in the county and being distributed, along with all the other drugs that are coming in. We have an addiction problem here and that’s the real problem,” Stewart said.

“I hope this sheds some light on the addiction problem in our community, and it should not happen at the expense of Mr. Keener,” she added.

During a Sept. 4 interview with Cumberland Township police, Keener allegedly admitted to selling the drugs to Palmer, according to court documents. Police said they also found Facebook chat messages between the two men on Palmer’s phone, including a conversation the morning of his death.

Cumberland Township police charged Keener on Jan. 3 in connection with Palmer’s death. Keener was arrested the following day after an hours-long manhunt found him hiding in a vehicle in the Dilliner area.

“I’m very appreciative of the work the police have done to get justice for Mr. Palmer and his family,” Vanata said.

Keener is being held without bond at the Greene County jail while awaiting formal arraignment on the charges, which is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. on Feb. 26.