Man pleads guilty in connection with 2 overdose deaths in Centre County, facing years in prison

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to supplying the drugs that led to the deaths of two women in Spring Township, Centre County’s top prosecutor said.

Timothy J. King, 38, of Westmoreland County, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said Thursday. His trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday.

King is expected to be sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison, Cantorna said. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3. A message left Thursday with his defense lawyer was not immediately returned.

King was one of two men charged with causing the women’s deaths. The charges filed against Jonathan M. Baird, 40, of State College, are pending.

Linda Trefelner, 59, and Renee Hillen, 33, were found in cardiac arrest in March 2022, Spring Township police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Trefelner died of fentanyl toxicity, while Hillen died of a multi-drug overdose.

Trefelner was Baird’s mother and Hillen was his fiance.

Trefelner, according to her obituary , was employed as a registered nurse. She was remembered as a “truly devoted, loving, and caring wife, mother and grandmother.”

Hillen was employed at Gabriel Brothers at the Nittany Mall, according to her obituary. She enjoyed being outdoors , especially while fishing, and dancing.

A search of Baird’s phone revealed conversations about purchasing drugs, police wrote. When pressed by an officer, Baird said he last bought drugs from King the day before the women overdosed, police wrote.

King posted bail and is free pending his sentencing. Baird is incarcerated in a state prison, Cantorna said.