Editor’s Note: The following is a submission by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
Here is a brief update on some of the events that occurred recently in the Chester County DA’s Office:
Couple Found Guilty of Third Degree Murder After 8-Year-Old Child Died of a Fentanyl Overdose
After a six-day trial, a Chester County jury found Defendant Mousa Hawa, 43, and Defendant Holly Back, 42, guilty on all charges, including Murder of the Third Degree, for causing the death of their 8-year-old son, who died of the combined effects of fentanyl, morphine, and cocaine ingestion. Defendant Hawa and Defendant Back were arrested in June of 2024 after the investigation revealed that drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the immediate area of the child victim’s body. Both Defendants also ingested fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin in the hours before the child died. Samples from the child’s hair revealed at least one additional fentanyl exposure prior to his death.
Evidence presented during trial indicated that both Defendants used the term “medicine” for their illegal substances and informed the child not to touch them unless they gave him the “medicine” themselves. Despite access to Narcan in the room with the child, neither Defendant took any steps to help the child until it was too late.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said, “These parents exposed their child to fentanyl and other drugs knowing that it was dangerous and failed to help him when he overdosed. This case was filled with gut-wrenching evidence, and I want to thank the jury for listening to it all and delivering a just verdict.”
Coatesville City Police Chief Jack Laufer said, “This was a sad and disturbing case. I am grateful for the work of the Coatesville police officers, county detectives, and prosecutors who fought together to get this child justice.”
Please remember, if you have concerns about the safety of a child, you should say something. Call 911. Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313. Childline reports can be anonymous.
Massachusetts Man Charged After Robbing a Bank and Fleeing from Police
On February 6, 2026, the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop J, Embreeville and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office charged Nicholas Casaburri, 44, of Leominster, Massachusetts, with Robbery, Assault on Law Enforcement Officers, and other related charges.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, the Pennsylvania State Police received a call that the Santander Bank, located in London Grove Township, had just been robbed by a person with a knife. Troopers were able to quickly find the suspect’s vehicle and chased the Defendant in his car until he crashed into an embankment. The Defendant was immediately taken into custody, and investigators were able to locate money and a knife in the crash debris.
