6 Charged After String Of Fatal Drug Overdoses: Montco DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — Six people have been charged in connection with four overdose deaths in Montgomery County, the District Attorney said. Five have been arrested; one other person accused of selling a fatal dose remains on the loose, authorities said.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele announced the arrests Thursday, saying the overdose deaths occurred from August 2018 to January 2019.

Charged with drug delivery resulting in death are:

• Maurice C. Johnson, 26, Philadelphia;
• Brenda McLaughlin, 37, of Hatfield;
• Antonio Rivera, 33, of Philadelphia;
• Mark R. Hertzog, 44, of Norristown;
• and Marquese H. Gaines, 27, of Philadelphia.

Gaines, of 4235 N. Darien Street in Philadelphia, is not yet in custody and authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest. Anyone with any information as to his whereabouts is asked to call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at (610)278-3368 or the Upper Merion Police Department at (610) 265-3232.

Kurt W. Espenship, 52, of King of Prussia, was also charged with possession with intent to deliver, involuntary manslaughter, and related charges. Johnson, Hertzog, Rivera, and McLaughlin were all remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional facility after failing to post bail at the respective preliminary hearings. Espenship was released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

The charges stem from the deaths of Jared Dameron, 39, on Aug. 7, 2018 in East Greenville; Danielle Petersen, 29, on Sept. 25, 2018 in Abington Township; Ronald Brauning, 41, on Oct. 9, 2018 at Montgomery County Correctional Facility; Kathleen Sicoli, 55, on Jan. 10, 2019 in Lower Providence Township; and Daniel Marinari, 53, on Dec. 27, 2018 in Upper Merion Township.

"These five arrests for Drug Delivery Resulting in Death brings to 17 the number of times we have charged drug dealers with homicide in the last three years," Steele said in a statement. "We are sending a loud and clear message to those who traffic in this poison that if we can prove that the drugs you sold caused someone’s death, you will be charged with homicide."

All decedents were found to have either fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs, in their bodies, according to autopsy results.