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Man Charged After Not Allowing First Responders To Help Dying Girlfriend

WEST WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - An Indiana County woman died of a drug overdose after her boyfriend refused to allow first responders in to help.

According to police, the incident happened Wednesday around 4 p.m. on Climax Road in West Wheatfield Township.

Brandon Crowe, 31, told first responders that his girlfriend wasn't there. When state police kicked the door down, 39-year-old Julie Madeley was gurgling on the floor unresponsive possibly due to a prescription drug overdose. She later died.

The two had reportedly been dating for a few months.

"Wpon their arrival, the defendant, Mr. Crowe gave the police a hard time - didn't want to let them into the residence, essentially told them nothing's wrong, feel free to go," said Patrick Dougherty, the Indiana County District Attorney.

Madeley was taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center before being transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital where she ultimately died.

Police told Crowe to leave the home and not come back.

"The state police got notified that the defendant was still at the scene, hadn't left as he was instructed," said Dougherty. "When they got back, there was several items of her electronics in his car as he was appearing ready to leave the area."

When police returned a second time, investigators say Crowe began threatening officers as well neighbors and Madeley's father.

"He was calling the police names and calling the neighbors names, and just not being very cordial to the people there," Dougherty said.

Crowe is charged with terroristic threats, obstruction of justice, reckless endangerment, obstructing emergency services, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and theft.

The investigation is ongoing.

An autopsy is planned on Madely's body. Meanwhile, Crowe is in jail unable to post bond.

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