David Shebish

An investigation into the suspected overdose death of an out-of-state man who was in Beaver County for his father's funeral led to the arrest of a Butler County man following an arranged weekend drug deal in Cranberry Township.

Agents with the state attorney general's office and state police used the victim's cell phone to set up the deal Saturday afternoon, according to investigators.

The defendant, David N. Shebish, 38, of Adams Township, was apparently unaware that the 41-year-old victim — a longtime friend from Chippewa Township — had died.

On Saturday, District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Shebish on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He is free on $150,000 bail.

Those charges are for the alleged drug deal. But the defendant is expected to face more charges stemming from the case that began Friday after the victim was found dead at his mother's Chippewa Township home.

Several full and empty stamp bags, the kind commonly used to package opioids, were found with the body, authorities said. A used syringe also was found.

All the bags were stamped in red with the number “1” and the image of a heart. Chippewa police and state police investigated the death as a suspected overdose, in part, due to evidence seized at the scene.

An autopsy found no trauma on the body and there was no sign of foul play. Toxicology results are pending.

“During the course of the investigation,” documents said, “it was discovered through cellular communication that David Nelson Shebish had given (the victim) the stamp bags while at the viewing of (the victim's) recently deceased father on (Friday).”

The viewing was at a funeral home in Chippewa.

Authorities said Chippewa Township police, state narcotics agents and task force officers and state police joined in the investigation. Officers used the victim's cell phone to call the defendant Saturday.

“Shebish offered to sell seven stamp bags of heroin to the (task force officer) posing as (the victim) for $5 per bag,” documents said.

Authorities said that around 4:35 p.m., the defendant drove into the parking lot at the Cranberry Mall on Route 19, the site of the arranged deal.

Awaiting officers arrested Shebish. He was allegedly found with seven glassine bags stamp in red with the number “1” and the image of a heart. Charging documents report the bags with similar to those discovered near the dead man's body.

Chippewa Township Police Chief Eric Hermick and a state police criminal investigator interviewed Shebish at the Cranberry Township Police Department.

During the interview, documents said, the defendant stated he “gave heroin to (the victim) the previous day (Friday) and that he (Shebish) knew the stamp bags to contain fentanyl.”

Hermick said Sunday that he plans to meet with the Beaver County district attorney this week to discuss filing additional charges, including for Shebish delivering drugs to the victim.

Another charge, Hermick said, could be drug delivery resulting in death.

Shebish could not be reached for comment Sunday, It is not known if he has an attorney.