Press Release: Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin and the Pennsylvania State Police announce the arrest of Kyle James Piekenbrock, age 27, of Dingmans Ferry, PA for the overdose death of James Read, age 26, which occurred on February 1, 2018 at Read’s residence in Delaware Township.

State police charged Piekenbrock with the felony offenses of Drug Delivery Resulting in Death; Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.  Piekenbrock faces a potential of up to 40 years in prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause in support of the charges, James Read was discovered deceased at his residence in Delaware Township in the morning on February 1, 2018.  Located at the residence were heroin packets with a stamp of “Death Bed” on the packets.  State Police recovered Read’s cellphone.  The Pike County District Attorney’s office Criminal Investigation Division assisted the State Police by performing a download of the phone.  The download revealed messages between Read and Piekenbrock discussing the purchase of heroin.

State Police arrested Piekenbrock on FEBRUARY 1, 2018, on an outstanding drug warrant.  During the arrest State police located 33 packets of heroin stamped “Death Bed”, $541.00 in cash and a needle.

 Pike County Coroner Christopher Brighton conducted coroner’s investigation into Read’s death.  According to the toxicology reports, Read had 190ng of morphine in his blood at the time of his death.  Coroner Brighton ruled the cause of Read’s death was heroin toxicity.

Pike County District Attorney Tonkin stated’ “We will continue to investigate, charge and prosecute the individuals who are responsible for peddling death into our community through this poison.”

Piekenbrock was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Paul Menditto, who remanded Piekenbrock to the Pike County Correctional Facility without bail.  A preliminary hearing was scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Menditto for February 12, 2019.