Man lunges at defendant in Montco courtroom during sentencing over overdose death of 6-year-old

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Sheriff’s deputies had to clear a Montgomery County courtroom on Thursday after a family member tried to attack a defendant who was pleading guilty to the fatal overdose of a 6-year-old.

Matthew Santiago , 35, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child for allowing his girlfriend’s 6-year-old son access to fentanyl and xylazine . The boy died from an overdose last summer.

In an agreement with prosecutors, he was sentenced to two to five years in prison and five years of probation.

The boy’s biological father addressed the court, then said to Santiago, “You know what you did. Look at me.”

Santiago fired back: “You weren’t even in his life.”

The boy’s uncle, sitting in the gallery, jumped to his feet and lunged toward Santiago. Deputies stepped in and cleared the courtroom.

“They started sniping back and forth and things just boiled over,” said Frank Genovese, Santiago’s lawyer. “I know it’s unfortunate that it happened, but it’s understandable based on the nature of the case.”

Prosecutor Gwen Kull said it showed the hurt the family has been dealing with.

“We do our best to bring justice given the facts of the case and to hold Mr. Santiago accountable, but at the end, this is raw emotion,” she said. “It’s a real person. It’s real family and real lives.”

“There is no sentence that can replace the loss for this family, and that hurt is what you saw today in court,” added prosecutor Brianna Ringwood. “But the sentence today is again a measure of justice.”

The boy’s mother, 32-year-old Kristen Sabatino , faces similar charges and is scheduled for trial in October.