A Pierceton man was arrested after allegedly dealing drugs to someone who died.
Jacob John Schlichter, 30, of 926 N. CR 900E, Pierceton, is charged with dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10:05 p.m. Thursday on a $10,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 11, 2023, the Warsaw Police Department and NET 43 Drug Task Force responded to a subject not breathing at a Warsaw residence. Medics arrived at the scene and, after attempting to administer medical assistance, the man was pronounced dead. It was believed the man overdosed on drugs.
A NET 43 officer spoke with the victim’s girlfriend. She said the victim told her he had bought narcotic pills and took one. She didn’t know where the victim got the pills, but believed someone had dropped the pills off while he was at work. She said she and the victim arrived at home around 5:30 a.m. May 11, 2023. The victim gave the girlfriend a pill and she took it and the victim took another one around 6:30 a.m.
On May 12, 2023, a postmortem examination was conducted on the victim and the manner of death was found to be an accident and the cause of death was Fentanyl toxicity.
A NET 43 commander spoke with a man who said he and the victim worked together and the victim offered the co-worker some pills. The co-worker knew the victim was going to get high because he was having issues with his girlfriend. The man knew the victim had been off drugs for two years. While they were sitting at work, the victim used Facebook Messenger to contact his alleged dealer, Schlichter, to get some pills.
The co-worker also said the victim went out to his car and a pickup pulled up and the victim ran over to the vehicle and came back with four pills. The co-worker said the victim thought the pills were oxycodone and not fentanyl.
On Dec. 6, 2023, a NET43 officer and commander went to Schlichter’s residence and saw a gray pickup truck parked in the front yard registered to Schlichter, but Schlichter wasn’t home.
On Dec. 19, 2023, the officer and commander spoke with the girlfriend, who said on the night of May 10, 2023, she though something was wrong with the victim. The victim later said he was high.
She said believed the victim used her phone to sign in to his Facebook account. When the girlfriend received a Facebook phone call from Schlichter, she asked the victim about it. The victim said he was unaware why Schlichter called. She attempted to find out where the victim got the drugs from, but the victim would not tell her, according to court documents.
On Jan. 24, 2024, officers spoke again with the co-worker. He said he asked the victim about the pills’ cost and was told $10 per pill. The co-worker said he questioned the victim about the price since they were usually priced at $25 to $30 a pill. The victim said his friend was coming from Columbia City and would be at their place of work soon.
On Jan. 30, 2024, officers spoke with a man who went to Schlichter’s home on May 11, 2023. He said Schlichter was emotional and told him his best friend died. Schlichter said he saw the victim the day he died and was worried because he gave the victim drugs. Schlichter said he thought the drugs were opiates, according to court documents.
Officers spoke with Schlichter on Jan. 31, 2024. Schlichter said he sold the victim five fentanyl pills in exchange for $50, according to court documents.