WITNESS: COFFMAN PRESSURED VICTIM INTO DOING DRUGS

The woman accused of second degree murder for providing drugs to a woman who later died from them, not only provided the drugs, she also persuaded the victim to take them, according to legal documents filed in the case.

Details of the events that led to authorities filing murder charges against Shawna Coffman, 26, of Sinnemahoning, were listed in the affidavit of probable cause, the court document officers file with criminal charges. The document was previouslybelieved to be sealed under a court order.

The victim was 39-yearold Melissa Marshall of Emporium.

According to the document, filed by police in the office of District Judge Alvin Brown, Shawna Coffman came to a party at Marshall's apartment at 19 West Second Street, Emporium on New Year's Eve. According to witnesses, she crushed up several pills and persuaded the victim to "try it… it would make her feel good." The victim apparently denied at first, but snorted the powder "after a short time of the defendant continuing to get (her) to try it."

According to witnesses, Coffman served the victim powdered drugs at least one more time that night.

One witness, who claimed to be the victim's best friend, said that he "never at anytime ever witnessed (the victim) involved with drugs," according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Sometime after midnight the victim fell unconscious. It is unclear at what time she died. The 911 call wasn't made until 9 am Jan. 1.

Witnesses said that through the night Shawna Coffman changed clothes and left the residence often. It was later discovered that she had stolen 20 DVDs, several bags of clothing and batteries, which she had carried to her vehicle throughout the night.

It was a full month later before witnesses willingly came forward and shared their story with Emporium Borough Police Chief Rufus Jones, who then began a more intense investigation. Five witnesses are listed in the affidavit of probable cause.

Shawna Coffman has been charged with second degree murder, and drug delivery resulting in death, both felonies, as well as possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and theft. Her husband, who witnesses say was "passed out" on the couch for most of the evening, was also charged as a result of the death. He faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit drug delivery resulting in death, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 20 in front of Brown.

An autopsy on the victim's body showed that she suffered from a pre-existing heart condition. According to the affidavit, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Eric Vey from the Erie County Medical Examiner's "died as a result of sudden cardiac death in the setting of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, likely exacerbated by multiple drugs present in the blood, including cocaine."

Both Coffmans are being held in Tioga County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

Under Pa. statute, second degree murder can be charged when a homicide occurs "during the commission of a felony."