CATAWISSA - Authorities are awaiting the results of lab tests to determine the cause and manner of death for an Elysburg woman who died from an apparent heroin overdose.
Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn said the autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown on the body of Erika Smith, 34, of Horvath Drive. Lynn said results typically take between eight and 12 weeks.
The coroner said toxicology and other testing should confirm a definitive cause and manner of death.
"At this point, I have no idea why she died and we can't be certain until we get the test results," Lynn said.
Meanwhile, one of the two men charged in connection with her death was released from prison Tuesday; a second man remains jailed.
Locust Township Police Chief Allen Breach said his department continues to conduct interviews and pursue leads on the circumstances surrounding Smith's death. Lynn and Columbia County District Attorney Thomas Leipold are assisting.
"We don't really have much other information to release at this point other than the investigation is ongoing," Breech said Tuesday.
Lynn pronounced Smith dead at 7:40 p.m. Sunday in the intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Police said she died after being treated for four days for a heroin overdose that occurred Nov. 20 at 51 Winding Way, Catawissa.
Out on bail
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 in Bloomsburg on $50,000 cash bail after his arraignment Thursday. Breach said Shepard's parents posted property bail for their son, allowing him to be released Tuesday.
Leiby remains incarcerated at Columbia County Prison on $35,000 cash bail.
Shepard, who is being defended by Attorney Gregory Moro, Bloomsburg, was initially scheduled for a hearing next week before Magisterial District Judge Craig Long of Catawissa, but it has been continued at his lawyer's request. No new hearing date has been set.
Leiby, who doesn't yet have an attorney, is still scheduled for his preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, before Long.
Shepard faces felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Leiby is charged with criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Authorities said any possible charges related to Smith's death are pending further investigation.
Pennsylvania recently adopted the "Drug Delivery Resulting in Death" statute, which makes it a first-degree felony to provide drugs to someone who dies as a result. The crime carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
First fatal
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.
Leipold said Smith's death is the latest of several drug overdose deaths his office has investigated this year.
According to criminal complaints 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.
Shepard said he made arrangements with a friend, later identified 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, police said.
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.
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.
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.