Crime.
The defendant allegedly delivered fentanyl and heroin to the victim prior to his death at a Comfort Inn, police allege.
An Upper Providence woman with a criminal history dating back to 2010, has been accused of delivering and selling heroin and fentanyl to a Cambria County man who later died of an overdose in a Comfort Inn.
Summer Sheree Bechtold, 27, of the 800 block of Meadowview Lane, Mont Clare, was charged Nov. 10 by Richland Township Police in Cambria County with a felony count each of possession with the intent to deliver heroin/fentanyl and possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.
On Nov. 6, at 12:18 p.m., police were dispatched to a death at the hotel at 455 Theatre Dr. in Johnstown. There, police found the body of a man, identified as Eric Carll, facedown in a halfway-filled bathtub, according to the affidavit.
Carll’s face and shoulders were submerged underwater, police said. Detectives said an aluminum foil pipe and lighter were clenched in his right hand.
Burnt aluminum foil was located on the floor as well, police said, as well as three pieces of foil. One of the pieces of foil was open and had a white powder residue inside, police said. The other two foil packs were rolled up and contained a small bag, commonly used to package illicit narcotics, police said.
The baggies had white powdery substance consistent with narcotics, authorities said.
Police said the victim’s cell phone showed a text conversation with Bechtold and the victim, beginning on Nov. 6 at 3:37 p.m., where they told one another they were going to the Comfort Inn.
“How Much” texted Carll to Bechtold at 3:55 p.m., per the complaint. “LOL r u involved with any type of law enforcement,” replied Bechtold, according to the affidavit. “No I am not,” Carll texted, police said.
At 4:53 p.m., Bechtold is allegedly seen on hotel security camera entering the victim’s room at the hotel, leaving eight minutes later. Police said the two continued to text one another throughout the evening.
At 1:24 a.m., Bechtold texted, “Do u still want any fet my people about to drop me off some,” police allege. “Fet” is slang for fentanyl, police said.
Authorities allege Bechtold and Carll met again at 2:29 a.m. Investigators discovered Bechtold checked into the hotel the day before at 1:49 p.m., according to the complaint. Police said Bechtold’s use of different addresses in Johnstown and Mont Clare, and due to frequent short stops to the victim’s room, it is believed “she is involved in illicit drug trafficking.”
On Nov. 9, authorities executed a search warrant on Bechtold’s hotel room, which uncovered a clear baggie with white powder, suspected to be heroin, white powder residue on a $1 bill, three orange pills stamped “F85” and a square pink pill stamped “Gucci,” police said. The warrant also found a plastic bag with suspected marijuana, per the complaint.
According to the affidavit, police found two hypodermic needles on Bechtold during a search.
Bechtold has been in Cambria County jail on 10% of $100,000 cash bail since Nov. 10, per court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at noon before Magisterial District Judge Susan M. Gindlesperger in Richand Township, Cambria County district court.
