Man charged in Cheltenham overdose death
NORRISTOWN >> An Elkins Park man was arrested on drug charges that led to the death of a man in Cheltenham.
Saeed McCrae, 23, of Elkins Park, was arrested for drug delivery resulting in death related to the Feb. 23, 2021, death of 27-yearold Nathan Lauch in Cheltenham Township.
On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Cheltenham Township Police were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Cottman Avenue for a report of an unresponsive man. Officers arrived to find Nathan Lauch deceased in his bedroom. Near the body, police located a black cellphone. They also found in the victim’s wallet that contained
two round yellow pills inscribed with a “T” over “189,” wrapped in a piece of a torn receipt.
Cheltenham Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives launched a joint investigation into the overdose death. In the victim’s cellphone, detectives found numerous phone calls and text messages between the deceased and McCrae arranging the purchases of drugs. The last was from the day before Lauch was found dead. Cellphone data confirmed the McCrae’s and Lauch’s phones were communicating with each other and in the same geographic area as McCrae’s apartment the night before Lauch was found dead of an overdose, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office.
The day after Lauch died, detectives acting as Lauch used his cellphone to arrange a purchase of five pills from McCrae. When McCrae went to the meet location at a Sunoco near his apartment, he was arrested. On his person were five yellow round pills inscribed with a “T” over “189,” wrapped in a piece of a torn receipt. Ten additional pills of the same type were found inside McCrae’s apartment, along with cash, court paperwork in his name and mail addressed to him. A search of McCrae’s phone found Lauch’s cellphone number with more than 1,400 text messages between the two.
While oxycodone pills are round yellow pills inscribed with a “T” over “189,” laboratory testing on the yellow pills located in the deceased’s wallet, on the defendant’s person and in his apartment found that they contained fentanyl and chlorofentanyl, according to the district attorney’s office.
“This defendant was selling counterfeit oxycodone pills that actually contained the even deadlier fentanyl. It is truly ‘buyer beware’ for drug users as there is no guarantee that what a drug dealer says he is selling is actually what is being sold,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said. “These tragic overdose deaths are happening to far too many families, ripping them apart. Montgomery County law enforcement will continue to hold drug dealers accountable for selling the deadly drugs that kill people.”
McCrae is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communications facility and related charges. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Karen Zucker, who set bail at $150,000 cash. McCrae was unable to make bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m., on Aug. 6, 2021, before Judge Zucker.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Evan Correia.