Pittsburgh man charged in overdose death of Lower Burrell woman

After about a year of waiting for lab results, police charged a Pittsburgh man this week with drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the fatal overdose of a Lower Burrell woman.

Otis L. Henley, 44, was in the Westmoreland County Prison on charges related to the death of Candace Steck on May 4, 2020, including conspiracy to manufacture, deliver or possess drugs and escape.

Henley’s preliminary hearing on the latest charge is set for May 18 before District Judge Cheryl Peck-Yakopec in Allegheny Township. He is jailed in lieu of $50,000 bond. His trial on the initial drug charges is set to begin June 21.

Lower Burrell officers investigated Steck’s death when they found in her bedroom 48 packets of suspected heroin stamped with a red tulip; three empty packets with a red tulip; 47 packets of suspected heroin stamped with SRT8, and two empty packets stamped SRT8, according to police affidavits.

An agent with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics joined a Lower Burrell detective in the investigation.

Police said they were aided by someone who knew Steck and helped officers set up a fake drug buy with Henley.

The deal was made between Henley and the informant May 6, 2020, at an undisclosed site in Lower Burrell, police said. The informant purchased 20 packets of suspected heroin, including 10 packets of SRT8 and 10 packets with a red tulip. The markings on the drugs bought by the informant were the same as those found in Steck’s bedroom, police said.

Henley and another person traveling with him were arrested after police set up a traffic stop. Henley was arrested and handcuffed. He tried to flee across Route 56, but officers chased and captured him.

Police said they found more packets of suspected heroin on Henley, including packets of SRT8 and others with a red tulip.

Henley’s companion was interviewed May 7, 2020, by New Kensington police. She told them Henley stowed additional narcotics at her father’s house on Victoria Avenue in Arnold. Police searched that home and found 22 packets of suspected heroin/fentanyl with a tulip stamp, two black bags containing a food blender with brown powder residue, other bags with different powders and a 9 mm pistol.

An attorney for Henley didn’t immediately return a call for comment Monday.