Defendant in Greensburg drug death case to be released from jail after completing treatment

An Irwin man jailed last week along with two others in connection with a fatal overdose of a man in Greensburg will be released from jail as he awaits his trial.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani on Monday modified the bond that held Francesco Ziegler, 28, in jail since his arrest last week following the Jan. 14 death of Christopher Holleran, 28, who was found dead in an Culbertson Avenue apartment he shared with his girlfriend and infant child.

Ziegler had been held without bond after he was charged with drug delivery resulting in death and other related offenses.

Feliciani ordered Ziegler to be released on a $5,000 unsecured bond once he successfully completes a three-week treatment program at the jail. The judge said Ziegler can be released to an in-patient drug treatment program.

Police said Holleran died from a fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin.

Andrew C. Hohn, 33, of the Fort Allen area of Hempfield, and Hollie A. Schreiber, 39, of Beaver Road, also in Hempfield, are charged with the same offenses for allegedly selling the drugs Holleran used in the overdose.

Police contend Ziegler, who had been friends with Holleran since high school, provided the phone number to enable him to buy drugs from Hohn and Schreiber.

Charges against George “Bee” Buchanan, 25, of Monroeville, who police initially sold heroin to Hohn and Schreiber at a Monroeville gas station, were dismissed, according to Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar.

“The investigation is still ongoing. We want to ensure we prosecute the right person,” Lazar said.

Ziegler, Hohn and Schreiber are scheduled to appear March 14 for preliminary hearings in Greensburg before District Judge Chris Flanigan.

Hohn remained in jail on Monday, having been unable to pay $150,000 bail. Schreiber also remained in jail on $75,000 bond.