BUTLER TWP — The investigation into a suspected fatal drug overdose this month in Adams Township led police and narcotics officers to an Old Plank Estates apartment.

Inside the home, investigators said, officers found evidence of a drug-dealing operation — bags of suspected heroin and crack cocaine, owe sheets and more than $1,600.

Among the confiscated contraband, an officer testified at a preliminary hearing Thursday, were nearly two dozen glassine bags of heroin stamped with the name “The King.”

Several bags with the same name and same gorilla's face on them were found days earlier and 16 miles away where 24-year-old Elizabeth Arblaster died of a suspected heroin overdose.

Eugene J. Smith III, 47, of Butler Township and Michael D. Burrows, 30, of Wilmerding, Allegheny County, were ordered Thursday to stand trial stemming from the discovery of drugs, money and other items.

But for now, no one has been charged in connection with Arblaster's death. That investigation, however, continues.

Local and state police, as well as the Butler County Drug Task Force, also are investigating four other suspected overdose deaths in the county in the first five days of this month.

Arblaster of Cherry Township was found dead Sept. 3 in the bedroom of a home on Stoup Road in Adams Township that she had been visiting.

Several stamp bags of heroin, some marked “The King,” investigators said, as well as syringes and a cooking spoon were found in the bedroom.

Adams Township police Detective Michael Bailey testified at Thursday's hearing that during his investigation he spoke to Arblaster's boyfriend, who admitted taking her to Smith's home Sept. 2 to buy heroin.

Smith leases a two-bedroom apartment at Old Plank Estates. Police believe Burrows had also been staying there.

Bailey said he eventually collected enough evidence — including recovered text messages between Arblaster and Smith — to secure a search warrant for the apartment.

When officers served the warrant Sept. 8, they found both defendants there as well as four others.

Smith was seated on a living room couch. Burrows, dressed only in boxer shorts, was in the hallway, Bailey said, apparently walking from the back bedroom that he was using.

In that bedroom, officers found 20 stamp bags of suspected heroin marked “The King” that were stashed in a plastic bag, Bailey said, and two baggies containing a “rather large” amount of suspected crack.

They also found $1,607 in a pair of pants belonging to Burrows and a set of keys to a Mercedes-Benz that he drove.

In the living room, police turned up several full and empty bags of heroin marked “KO,” and loaded syringes.

Bailey told prosecutor Ben Simon, a county assistant district attorney, that investigators believe the living room was being used as a “(drug) user room” and the back bedroom was the “dealer room.”

During questioning by Burrows' attorney, John Morgan, the detective acknowledged that at least some of the four suspected users that were also at the apartment had drugs on them.

Adams police Sgt. Edward Lenz testified that following the apartment search, officers obtained a second warrant to look through Burrows' Mercedes sport utility vehicle.

While the vehicle is registered to his father. Burrows drives it, according to testimony.

The vehicle search, Lenz said, turned up additional evidence, including $815 in the center console and a loaded .38-special revolver inside a compartment in the rear hatch.

The gun, investigators later learned, was previously reported stolen from Bruin.

Lenz also testified that Burrows has a prior federal court conviction for distribution of cocaine in West Virginia. That conviction, under Pennsylvania law, prohibits him from possessing any firearms.

District Judge Kevin O'Donnell following testimony ruled both defendants be held for court on charges of felony and misdemeanor drug possession and conspiracy.

Burrows alone also faces felony charges of receiving stolen property and illegal possession of a firearm. He and Smith remain in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 and $25,000 bail, respectively.

Prosecutors previously acknowledged that more serious charges could be added as the investigation into Arblaster's death continues.

Local police departments and the Butler County Drug Task Force also are moving forward on the investigations into the other suspected overdose deaths — two in Butler Township and one each in Butler and Slippery Rock Township.

County Detective Tim Fennell, who heads the drug task force, declined to comment about the investigations.

Simon was unavailable for comment following the hearing.