Reckless homicide charges filed in 2016 drug death

Virginia woman allegedly shipped LSD, fentanyl to Gillett victim
By: 
Warren Bluhm
Oconto County Times Herald Editor

OCONTO — A Virginia woman has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide for allegedly mailing a lethal dose of fentanyl to a Gillett man in 2016.

Holly T. Santa-Ana, 29, of Burke, Virginia, appeared in Oconto County Circuit Court on July 29 and was released after posting $50,000 cash bond. Judge Michael T. Judge ordered Santa-Ana to surrender her passport and waive extradition from Virginia among conditions of bail.

The body of Christian L. Matelski, 28, was found Jan. 3, 2016, in his bed in the town of Gillett. An autopsy determined he died of complications of fentanyl and Clonazepam intoxication. He had recently failed a drug treatment program in California and returned to live with his parents in Gillett.

According to the criminal complaint, then-Investigator Darren Laskowski found letters, postcards and shipping materials that had been sent to Matelski by Santa-Ana. Later that year, he interviewed Santa-Ana in Burke, which is about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C.

She told Laskowski she met Matelski online but never met him in person, and she claimed she had mailed him jewelry and books. The investigator challenged her to explain one note where she wrote, “I know this s—- looks small … but it packs a punch! I’m enclosing a razor blade just in case you don’t have one.”

Santa-Ana then admitted she had sent the Gillett man over-the-counter medications like cough medicine but denied sending Clonazepam or fentanyl, the complaint said.

Laskowski is now chief deputy, and newly appointed Investigator Justen Ragen picked up the case earlier this year. The complaint says Ragen reviewed messages exchanged between Matelski and Santa-Ana on the night before his body was found.

“Thanks for the package, red queen,” the complaint quotes Matelski as telling her. “I could already feel the stuff working on me.”

“Nice. Do you like the nirvana lol,” she replied. “Sorry it wasn’t more, if I come into some I’ll let you know!”

According to the complaint, Matelski sent a message to another friend saying, “I just did a line of heroin so I’m feeling great.”

Evidence suggests Santa-Ana had previously shipped LSD to Matelski, the complaint said.

Santa-Ana’s initial court appearance was adjourned until 10 a.m. Sept. 12.