A man and a woman are charged with supplying heroin, containing fentanyl, to a Manheim man who died of overdose in December.
Northern Lancaster County Regional police Detective Theresa Stauffer charged Justina L. Heisey, 56, and Justin D. Zelek, 23, with three felonies, including drug delivery resulting in death, regarding the Dec. 16 death of a 48-year-old Manheim man.
Heisey and Zelek, both of East Mount Hope Road, Penn Township, were arraigned Tuesday morning by District Judge Bruce Roth, who set bail at $500,000 cash apiece. Bail was not posted.
Heisey and Zelek were arrested without incident at their home Monday night.
They are charged with drug delivery resulting in death, conspiracy, and criminal use of a cellphone. Assistant District Attorney Barry Goldman approved the charges.
Police found the victim dead at a home, also on East Mount Hope Road, on the afternoon of Dec. 16. At the scene, police found several baggies (consistent with heroin packaging) with brand names.
An autopsy revealed the victim died of an overdose involving heroin and fentanyl.
Police used cellphone analysis to determine the victim was in contact with Heisey and Zelek for purposes of buying heroin. Police confirmed the two numbers in contact with the victim’s belonged to Heisey and Zelek.
Text messages discussed cost and the quality of the drugs.
One text message, believed to be sent by Zelek to the victim, stated the drugs were “20 times better than anything we’ve ever had before.”
There was additional phone correspondence between Heisey, Zelek and the victim regarding buying and obtaining heroin.
The victim had Heisey and Zelek’s numbers stored in his phone contact list as “Tina” and “Bub,” known nicknames for Heisey and Zelek.
Heisey and Zelek are presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright