Rebersburg man charged in man’s death

A Rebersburg man has been arrested on charges related to another man’s death.

Zachery R. Borden, 24, of Rebersburg, allegedly dealt heroin to a 41-year-old Woodward man, which caused his death. State troopers investigated the man’s death, which occurred July 18, 2015, for almost two years.

Police responded on July 18, 2015, to a Haines Township home where a deceased man was found with a tourniquet around his left arm and a syringe and metal spoon with cotton under his body, according to an affidavit of probable cause. A witness told police they watched the deceased man get into a vehicle with Borden at 11 p.m. the previous day at the Millheim Fire Department’s parking lot, and returned a few minutes later. A doctor estimated the man’s time of death to be two hours later at about 1 a.m.

Police discovered three bags of heroin in the deceased man’s possession and also observed text messages on his phone with Borden, the affidavit said. Police believed the conversation was consistent with that of a drug transaction, and the Centre County Coroner’s Office listed the cause of death to be a heroin overdose

State troopers interviewed Borden, who was incarcerated, March 2 at the Centre County Correction Facility for a similar case. Police also asked Borden about the 2015 case, but he allegedly became agitated, said he wanted an attorney and left the room.

Police then began to monitor Borden’s jail conversations, which resulted in a discussion with a woman over the phone. Borden allegedly said during the call that he was afraid he’d be indicted and they talked about fleeing to New York after he was released from jail.

A relative of Borden was interviewed June 30, and he allegedly said that Borden confided in him that he sold the heroin that killed a man in 2015. The relative said that Borden had no remorse except for the other man’s children and said it was the other man’s fault.

Borden was charged with felony drug delivery resulting in death, felony drug possession with intent to deliver and felony criminal use of a communication facility.

He was unable to post $100,000 bail set by District Judge Allen Sinclair, who scheduled a preliminary hearing to take place at 8:30 a.m. July 26.

This story was originally published July 11, 2017 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Rebersburg man charged in man’s death."