(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: June 12, 2026): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that the Pennsylvania Superior Court has affirmed the conviction of a man convicted in the death of a Bradford woman in 2021. Brady PYSADEE was convicted after a jury trial held at the McKean County Courthouse in August, 2024 of Drug Delivery Resulting in Death, 2 counts of Drug Delivery (cocaine and fentanyl), Involuntary Manslaughter, and other charges in the death of Bradford woman, Mercedes Simonds. 

PYSADEE’s lawyers argued that the jury should not have been permitted to hear hearsay statements from the deceased victim about obtaining drugs from PYSADEE. The Superior Court noted that the evidence in the case was abundant including PYSADEE’S own statements made to the victim that were revealed in phone records that the drugs he was going to give her were so strong that they made him sick when he used them, toxicology results that showed that the victim ingested three times the lethal amount of fentanyl, video surveillance showed PYSADEE meeting with the victim at the relevant time, and a medical expert’s testimony regarding the manner of death – all noted by the Court to have supported the conviction.  The Court noted that the evidence was so abundant that it proved PYSADEE committed the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. The Court affirmed the conviction. 

PYSADEE remains incarcerated and serving his sentence.

Following sentencing, District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer extended her sympathy to the family of Mercedes and recognized the work of police, EMS, and other witnesses. 

DA Vettenburg-Shaffer said, “The loss of a young woman from a fentanyl overdose never passes. Her family will mourn her forever. Today brings us closer to the conclusion of the criminal case, but we are mindful that the family will continue to suffer and our sympathies will remain with them. I also want to extend my greatest appreciation for Officer Kolin Strawcutter for his tireless investigation in this case that included numerous subpoenas to locate evidence of the delivery that led to Mercedes’ death. He was able to track her death to the defendant through interviews and subpoenas that ultimately led him to video evidence of critical points throughout the evening of June 16, 2021. Sgt. Seth Shephard, Officer Tyler Blair, Officer Matthew Gustin, Chief Michael Ward, and Bradford EMS Christopher Spaich and Zach Harten assisted in the investigation and trial. Bartenders at the Keystone and JJ’s provided critical testimony as did the tenant of the apartment in which Mercedes passed and others – all describing the last few hours of her life. Many of these witnesses, previously virtual strangers to the family, stood with them in support throughout the trial.”

Prior Post Following Sentencing:  _____________________________________________________________________

PYSADEE SENTENCED FOR DRUG DELIVERY DEATH OF BRADFORD WOMAN (MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: October 17, 2024):  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that Brady PYSADEE, previously convicted of the Drug Delivery Resulting in Death of a Bradford woman after a jury trial in August, was sentenced to state prison at a sentencing hearing at the McKean County Courthouse this afternoon. After hearing from the victim’s mother and sister, the Judge sentenced PYSADEE TO 9 years to 18 years on Drug Delivery Resulting in Death, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Involuntary Manslaughter, and other charges. PYSADEE had been convicted at a jury trial in August where the jury saw messages between the victim and PYSADEE where PYSADEE brought drugs to the victim early in the day on June 16, 2021. Later in the evening, PYSADEE arranged to deliver more drugs to her and communications revealed discussion about his desire to sell drugs in the area for profit. Videos from businesses in East Bradford and messages between the victim and PYSADEE captured the victim’s last moments – from meeting with PYSADEE shortly after 11:00 pm to walking with the assistance of a friend to an apartment after she became ill after using drugs with PYSADEE. She was found deceased at the apartment the next morning. Her death was due to the drugs delivered by PYSADEE that contained fentanyl. PYSADEE was convicted of Drug Delivery Resulting in Death; 2 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (cocaine and fentanyl); Possession of a Controlled Substance; Involuntary Manslaughter; and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. In addition to incarceration of 9 years to 18 years, PYSADEE was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family, pay lab user fees, drug and alcohol treatment, provide a DNA sample, and other terms. He is not eligible for any early parole. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Officer Kolin Strawcutter of the City of Bradford Police investigated the case. 

Original Post Following Conviction: 

MAN CONVICTED OF DRUG DELIVERY RESULTING IN DEATH OF BRADFORD WOMAN (MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: August 20, 2024)  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, following a two day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Brady PYSADEE, of Rochester, was convicted of crimes related to the death of a Bradford woman due to a fatal overdose in 2021. PYSADEE was charged after City of Bradford Police and City of Bradford Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to a call for a cardiac arrest at an apartment on East Main Street in Bradford on June 17, 2021. Upon arrival, Officers observed Mercedes Simonds unresponsive. Despite resuscitation efforts by the caller, Police and EMS, Mercedes was pronounced deceased upon her arrival at BRMC. An autopsy and toxicology showed that she died as a result of a drug overdose predominantly caused by fentanyl. Officers soon learned from witnesses that she had been contacted by PYSADEE and they had made arrangements to meet in the evening of June 16, 2021. The defendant arranged to meet SIMONDS in his vehicle on a street in East Bradford. A third party was in a nearby vehicle and would describe SIMONDS’ changed demeanor after exiting the PYSADEE vehicle. Shortly thereafter, SIMONDS would state that she “did a line of something brown” with the defendant and she thinks it may have been heroin. The third party also received some of the same drugs that PYSADEE gave to SIMONDS and reported he, too, became violently ill. Upon returning to the bar/restaurant she had been in earlier that evening, SIMONDS became increasingly ill from the drug – including vomiting and she tried to reach out to PYSADEE, to no avail. Witnesses tried to get her medical assistance, but she said she just needed to go to sleep. One of the witnesses took her to an apartment nearby and checked on her periodically. He did not notice any outward signs of a fatal overdose but noticed her breathing changed to snoring and then into gurgling. Ultimately, she went into cardiac arrest. District Attorney Vettenburg-Shaffer: “The loss of a young woman from a fentanyl overdose never passes. Her family will mourn her forever. Today brings us closer to the conclusion of the criminal case, but we are mindful that the family will continue to suffer and our sympathies will remain with them. I also want to extend my greatest appreciation for Officer Kolin Strawcutter for his tireless investigation in this case that included numerous subpoenas to locate evidence of the delivery that led to Mercedes’ death. He was able to track her death to the defendant through interviews and subpoenas that ultimately led him to video evidence of critical points throughout the evening of June 16, 2021. Sgt. Seth Shephard, Officer Tyler Blair, Officer Matthew Gustin, Chief Michael Ward, Christopher Spaich and Zach Harten assisted in the investigation and trial. Bartenders at the Keystone and JJ’s provided critical testimony as did the tenant of the apartment in which Mercedes passed and others – all describing the last few hours of her life. Many of these witnesses, previously virtual strangers to the family, stood with them in support throughout the trial.” PYSADEE was charged with Drug Delivery Resulting in Death; Involuntary Manslaughter; Delivering a Controlled Substance (on two occasions on June 16, 2021); Possession of a Controlled Substance; and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. He was convicted of all counts. Officer Strawcutter was the lead investigator and filed charges. District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. PYSADEE was remanded to the McKean County Jail following the verdict. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 17th at 1pm.