Atglen man charged in fatal heroin overdose

Officials: Parkesburg man bought drug from Robert Patterson 1 day before his death

A 22-year-old Atglen man was arrested in California earlier this month for allegedly selling heroin to a man who fatally overdosed on the drug a day later, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Robert Patterson was arrested by federal authorities and is currently awaiting extradition back to Chester County for the January death of a 23-yearold Parkesburg man. Officials said Patterson sold to the victim, identified in a criminal complaint as 23-year-old Cody Souders, several bags of heroin a day before Souders was found dead at his home in the 6000 block of Limeville Road.

It was the second arrest of its kind in Chester County this month, and law enforcement officials said they will continue to target heroin dealers as a deadly epidemic continues to take lives both locally and nationwide.

“This defendant discovered that dealing heroin in Chester County results in a ticket to prison. And this case is a grim reminder that using heroin anywhere can result in a one-way ticket to your death,” said District Attorney Tom Hogan.

According to the criminal complaint, medical examiners determined that Souders died from an overdose and investigators eventually recovered six empty bags that had held heroin, multiple syringes and a used spoon.

Investigators later determined

that on Jan. 15, a day before Souders died, he met Patterson at an intersection in West Sadsbury. Souders bought the heroin from Patterson, the complaint said, and later died after he went home and used the drugs.

Detectives interviewed several witnesses who confirmed that Patterson sold the drugs to Souders, the complaint said. Investigators also obtained several text messages from Patterson’s phone that discussed selling the heroin and Souders’ death.

“I will admit ima [expletive] piece of [expletive] for selling that stuff,” Patterson said in a text message, according to the complaint. “I should be in jail for being such a piece of [expletive] and I will never forgive myself.”

Despite the apparent remorse, Patterson continued to deal heroin to other us- ers after Souders’ death, law enforcement officials said. Officials also noted that enforcement efforts are being paired with educational outreach programs in an effort to prevent future abuse.

“Chester County law enforcement is fighting the scourge of heroin with every tool we have. We are educating students, providing Narcan to the police, and locking up dealers. We will fight to protect our children,” Hogan said.

Patterson was charged with drug delivery resulting in death, drug dealing and related offenses. The investigation was led by the Chester County Detectives, who were assisted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the West Sadsbury Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Pierce.

Follow Daily Local News staff writer Michael N. Price on Twitter @MikePriceWrites and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michaelnprice.

Robert Patterson