Erica Keysor confers with her attorney, Megan McLean, during a sentencing hearing Thursday in Allen County Common Pleas Court. Keysor was sentenced to 10 years in prison for providing cocaine laced with fentanyl which was blamed for the death of a Lima man.
J Swygart | The Lima News
LIMA — A Lima woman who provided cocaine laced with fentanyl that investigators say ultimately led to the accidental overdose death last year of a 49-year-old Lima man was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 10 years behind bars.
Erica Keysor was charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, corrupting another with drugs and involuntary manslaughter in the incident that left the man dead and landed a woman in the hospital with overdose-like symptoms.
Keysor, 30, earlier this month entered into an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and an amended count of corrupting another with drugs, a felony of the second degree. The remaining counts were dismissed by the state.
The plea deal contained a recommendation for a 10-year prison sentence.
The deceased man’s former wife and his three daughters addressed the court prior to sentencing and asked Judge Terri Kohlrieser to hold Keysor accountable. The daughters described their father as a loving, caring person who didn’t deserve his fate.
The other victim in the case, a woman who was in the same motel room as the male victim when Keysor delivered what was supposed to be cocaine, also spoke prior to sentencing.
“It was our fault for doing stupid (stuff), but these girls didn’t deserve to lose their dad,” the woman said.
The deceased man’s former wife said, “If only Ms. Keysor had delivered what she was asked to deliver, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Megan McLean, an attorney with the Allen County Public Defenders Office, said Keysor battled drug addiction several years ago and had seemingly overcome her problems before suffering a setback.
“Erica never intended any harm or believed any harm would happen,” McLean said. “But she is here today to accept responsibility.”
When given the opportunity to speak, Keysor turned to face the victim’s family.
“I know I hurt you, and I am really sorry for that,” she said. “I hurt my family, too. I hurt my kids. I never meant for this to happen, and I hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
According to court records, Lima police responded Oct. 17, 2023, to a 911 call about an unresponsive male at the Imperial Inn Motel on East North Street. The caller said the 49-year-old man had overdosed on drugs. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
A woman in the room told investigators she had contacted a drug dealer she knew as “Izzy” earlier in the evening at the request of the victim. She told police Erica “Izzy” Keysor was the person who delivered the drugs.
Before imposing sentence, the judge talked about the inherent dangers of the world of illicit drugs.
“I don’t think Ms. Keysor set out to harm or kill anyone, but drugs bring death,” Kohlrieser said emphatically. “And to anybody who is buying illegal substances, in many instances those drugs are laced with other substances, most likely with fentanyl.
“These aren’t candies, people. You are playing Russian roulette when you sell drugs or use them,” Kohlrieser concluded.
