Friday, February 14, 2025

Two Wilmington men face heroin-related murder charge in court

masciotti-in-court
Daniel Lees Masciotti (right) makes his video first-appearance in New Hanover County District Court on Friday afternoon on a second-degree murder charge. (Photo by Christina Haley.)

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Two Wilmington men facing murder charges in connection with the fatal overdose of 24-year-old Alexandra Hammitt earlier this month, made their first appearance in New Hanover County District Court on Friday afternoon.

Daniel Lee Masciotti, 33, and Jonathan Alan Foster, 28, appeared before Judge Melinda Crouch on charge of second-degree murder. In a reading of the charge on Tuesday, Crouch said the two men face a maximum punishment of 484 months in prison.

According to the arrest warrants, both Masciotti – Hammitt’s boyfriend – and Foster are charged with her death, which occurred sometime between Nov. 1-2.  Authorities indicated one of the suspects took Hammitt to the hospital, though they weren’t specific on which one.

According to an incident report from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, a special police officer at New Hanover Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, 151 Scotts Hill Medical Drive in Wilmington, reported a heroin overdose involving the 24-year-old woman at 7:22 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Foster appears in court on video, while his attorney, Blake Spale, speaks to the judge.
Foster appears in court on video, while his attorney, Blake Spale, speaks to the judge.

Hammitt died while being treated at the emergency facility, according to District Attorney Ben David, who spoke during a press conference about the case on Thursday.

Prior to the murder charges, both Masciotti, of Montego Court in Wilmington, and Foster, of Bayshore Drive in Wilmington, were faced with several related heroin charges in the case. Prosecutors allege Foster supplied the heroin in the case.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Masciotti and Foster were previously charged in the case with one count each of selling and delivering heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin, and conspiracy to sell or deliver heroin. Masciotti and Foster remain at the New Hanover County Jail under $2.25 million secured bonds.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Severo is procecuting the case for the state. In court on Friday, Masciotti was represented by Terry Richardson. Foster was being represented by Attorney Blake Spale on his previous drug charges and will represent him on the additional second-degree murder charge.

Daniel Lee Masciotti
Daniel Lee Masciotti
Jonathan Alan Foster
Jonathan Alan Foster

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