Chambersburg man faces charges for drug delivery resulting in death - 2nd case this week

A Chambersburg man was charged on his 27th birthday Tuesday in relation to a fatal overdose in April. 

Aron Byrd-Smith faces felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death and manufacturing, delivering or possession of a controlled substance, according to court records.

On April 20, police responded to Carson's Motel at 414 Loudon Street for a subject who had not checked out and was still believed to be inside the bathroom.

Officers on scene noted various drug paraphernalia, including a white powder and a clear capsule on the dresser.

More:Waynesboro man charged with drug delivery resulting in death, bail set at $250,000

A 24-year-old woman, Gabrielle Powell, was found dead inside the motel bathroom, clutching a syringe in her hand and a tourniquet wrapped around her arm. 

A police investigation revealed Powell had paid a "ride share entity" to transport her from Fayetteville to Stanley Avenue in Chambersburg on April 19.  

She met Byrd-Smith at a residence where he was playing a card game, according to court documents.

The two later got a ride to Carson's Motel and rented a room in his name at approximately 1:25 a.m.

Police said Byrd-Smith spent the night and left around 7:30 that morning for a preplanned trip to New York to visit family. Powell was believed to still be alive at this time, based on communication records.

Powell and Byrd-Smith had been in a relationship the previous month and Byrd-Smith frequently informed her that he was selling drugs, according to police.

Evidence suggests Powell had obtained drugs from him multiple times shortly before her death.

More:Mother of overdosed Greencastle toddler pleads no contest, sentenced to 10-20 years

On April 19, Byrd-Smith had told Powell that he had made a trip to Baltimore to "reup" on drugs. Investigators were able to confirm that he was in the Baltimore area at this time. 

The capsule found in the motel room was referred to by police as "scramble" - a mixture of fentanyl, heroin and/or cocaine.

The capsule tested positive for fentanyl, a Schedule II synthetic narcotic. The syringe tested positive for the presence of cocaine metabolites and fentanyl.

An autopsy of Powell's body determined the cause of death to be fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.

Police have identified Baltimore as the primary source city for "scramble."

Byrd-Smith was interviewed by police on April 23, after he returned from New York.

He denied giving any drugs to Powell in the motel room. Police discovered Byrd-Smith had a history of opioid addiction.

He was interviewed again on Aug. 15, where he admitted to his addiction and abuse of opioids and cocaine following Powell's death.

When police asked Byrd-Smith if he had given Powell drugs, he invoked his right to counsel and the interview was terminated.

After the interview, police were informed by an unidentified source that Byrd-Smith had personally told him he gave Powell drugs in the motel room that night.

The source also told police he had gone to Baltimore with Byrd-Smith in the past to purchase drugs.

A handful of "scramble" capsules were shown to the source by Byrd-Smith the night before Powell overdosed, according to court records.

More:Waynesboro man suspected of selling heroin that caused 2014 fatal overdose to go on trial

The source had "intimate knowledge" of both interviews Byrd-Smith had with police and details of the investigation that were not made public. Byrd-Smith had a conversation with the source about what to say to avoid being charged for his role in Powell's death before his first police interview, according to police.

The source told police he would be willing to testify to their knowledge of Byrd-Smith's role in the overdose death if necessary.

Byrd-Smith was put in jail and denied bail on the grounds of being a flight risk and a "danger to society," according to his docket sheet.

He is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Glenn Manns for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 23.