A Lancaster man is facing serious felony charges after allegedly delivering drugs that led to the overdose death of a Martic Township resident.
Pennsylvania State Police have charged 29-year-old Jason Ramos-Malave with supplying the drugs that resulted in the death of Michael Anthony Montijo in April.
Montijo was found deceased in his home, and the Lancaster County Coroner ruled the cause of death to be an overdose of cocaine and doxepin, an antidepressant, ultimately deeming it a suicide.
According to court documents, security footage showed Montijo meeting another individual, Gerald Richard Roark-Eshelman, at a Lancaster Walgreens just days before his death.
Text messages between Montijo and Roark-Eshelman revealed plans to meet for a drug transaction.
State police later arranged a sting operation using Montijo’s phone, leading to the arrests of Ramos-Malave and Roark-Eshleman during a subsequent drug deal at the same Walgreens location.
Roark-Eshleman admitted to police that he had been regularly purchasing and delivering cocaine to Montijo, including in the days leading up to his death. He also stated that Ramos-Malave knew the drugs were intended for Montijo.
Ramos-Malave is now facing two felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and is currently out on bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.
It remains unclear whether Roark-Eshleman has been charged in connection with the case.
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