Doctor who prescribed drugs that killed woman sentenced to house arrest, probation

GREENSBURG, Pa. — The doctor who over-prescribed the pills that killed a woman was sentenced to house arrest and probation.

Dr. Egar Peske prescribed 100 methadone pills for drug withdrawal symptoms to 30-year-old Nicole Henderson. Henderson was one of nine patients who Henderson prescribed more than 104,000 pills to over almost two years.

“He better ask for forgiveness from the guy up there because hes not getting any from me," said Don Howard, Henderson’s father.

Two years of house arrest and five years of probation handed down to Peske isn’t enough justice for the family Henderson.

You can now customize your WPXI News App to receive alerts to Westmoreland County news. CLICK HERE to find out how.

“He’s been walking around for 5 years. My daughters been dead for 5 years. He’s going to live out his life in his house. My daughters not going to live out a life," Howard said.

Peske, 81, took a deal and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Peske was arrested in 2015 for the overdose death of Henderson. The AG said Peske prescribed 100 methadone tablets to Henderson. She died the day after she got it filled.

“Dr. Peskes error in judgement when dealing with this patient is miscalculating the depths of her addiction... (but to) he did not anticipate she would not follow his instructions. He’d been treating her for years and she always followed his instructions," Brian Aston, Peske’s attorney, said.

Peske was one of the first doctors charged in Westmoreland County, where a third party can be held accountable for an overdose death.

“He treated her for probably 8 or 9 years.. He got to know her. And he feels horrible about the situation.”

Peske told the judge - he agreed to the deal because it ended 5 years of misery for him — and for the family of Nicole Henderson.

“You’re not sending any message. He’s gonna go live in house for the rest of his life. What kind of message is that? That doesn’t send the next pill pusher any message at all," Howard said.

Police: Beaver Co. Woman Gave Kids Pills, Alcohol During New Year's Party Police: Beaver Co. Woman Gave Kids Pills, Alcohol During New Year's Party

© 2020 Cox Media Group