CATAWISSA - An Elysburg woman is dead and two men face charges in connection with a heroin overdose last week.
Locust Township Police said Erika Smith, 34, of Horvath Drive, died Sunday evening at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, after being treated for an overdose that occurred Thursday at 51 Winding Way, Catawissa.
An autopsy is scheduled for 8 a.m. today at Lehigh Valley Medical Center, Allentown, while police continue their investigation in conjunction with Columbia County District Attorney Thomas Leipold and Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn.
Gregory Shepard, 26, who lives at the home where the overdose occurred, and Bryant Leiby, 25, of 814 Mount Zion Drive, Danville, have been charged in connection with the overdose. Shepard was jailed at Columbia County Prison on $50,000 cash bail after his arraignment Thursday. Leiby's is in the same prison on $35,000 cash bail. Both are charged with drug-related counts, while Shepard is facing an endangerment charge. Authorities said any possible charges related to Smith's death are pending further investigation.
Officials confirmed Monday that Smith is the stepdaughter of Ralpho Township Police Chief Stuart Appel.
Locust Township Police Chief Allen Breach said the death is the first fatal heroin overdose he can remember investigating in his 15 years in the township, but acknowledges the problem is becoming more prevalent.
"Over the last two or three years, we have seen the use of heroin dramatically increase," Breach said, adding that police find more during traffic stops, too. "The problem is here."
Leipold said this is the latest of several drug overdose deaths his office has investigated this year.
"Unfortunately, heroin is becoming fairly prevalent in the county," Leipold said, adding that it's possible some overdose deaths aren't recorded as such.
Unresponsive
According to court documents filed by Breach, police were dispatched to Shepard's home at approximately 10:33 p.m. Nov. 20 and found a female lying on her back and unresponsive. Patrolman Nicholas Thorpe performed CPR until an ambulance crew arrived.
Shepard told police the female had "shot up" with one bag of heroin approximately three hours before and Shepard called 911 after watching over her and becoming concerned.
He said he made arrangements with a friend, later named as Leiby, to deliver heroin to him and Smith. Leiby purchased 20 bags of heroin for $300, given to him by Shepard. After Leiby made the delivery, the three used the drugs between 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 20.
After Smith passed out, the two men at first thought she was simply "high," Shepard said.
Shepard told police Leiby eventually left because he didn't want to be involved. Shepard said he became increasingly worried.
He told police he called and texted a friend about Smith's condition, and was told to put her on her side so she could breathe better. While Shepard got more anxious, he allegedly used four more bags of heroin, then saw Smith's lips change from pink to blue. He then told his mother about her condition and called 911.
Drugs, paraphernalia
While searching Shepard's bedroom, police uncovered 69 empty wax paper packets used to package heroin, eight needles, a bong and other drug paraphernalia. Officers also found green vegetable material believed to be synthetic marijuana.
Shepard's mother, Maureen, told police that at noon, she and Smith went to Elysburg to get food - the only time they left the house all day. Maureen said she heard a vehicle pull up into the driveway at 2:30 p.m. and saw a small truck that she knew was owned by Leiby, who went into the basement door to Shepard's room. At 6 p.m., she heard Leiby's vehicle leave, but didn't see him go.
Leiby told police he and Shepard injected several bags of heroin before he decided to leave around 4 p.m. He said Smith was passed out when he left. Leiby said he advised Shepard to keep watching Smith and take her to the emergency room if she stopped breathing.
Charges
Shepard faces felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and misdeamenor charges of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Leiby was charged with criminal use of a communication facility, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was placed in Columbia County Prison on $35,000 cash bail after Thursday's arraignment.
Breach said there is a possibility of further charges, but "a lot of work" has to be done first. That includes an autopsy, toxicology tests and filing search warrants.
Felony?
Pennsylvania recently adopted the "Drug Delivery Resulting in Death" statute in the Pa. Crimes Code, which makes it a felony in the first degree if a person intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance and another person dies as a result of using the substance.
If convicted, the crime carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
It's a statute that's being tested in Coal Township as police continue to investigate four heroin overdoses in two months between February and March, two of which resulted in death.
The drug packaging in the fatal overdoses match that of the near-fatal overdose of Jason R. Kobbe, 22, of Wynn School Road, Locust Township, who allegedly purchased the heroin from Jordan Detalente, 18, of Bloomsburg.
Detalente was arrested with two other individuals at the Glosser Motor Inn, Paxinos, Feb. 4 when police found 71 bags of heroin, four grams of marijuana, eight grams of cocaine and one gram of Ecstasy in their motel room.