Washington woman headed to trial in drug delivery resulting in death case
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A Washington woman accused of selling fentanyl that killed a man will head to trial.
Amber Joy Elcyzyn, 36, appeared before District Judge Kelly Stewart at the Washington County Courthouse Friday morning for a scheduled preliminary hearing. Attorneys from both sides agreed to have the charges held for court without a hearing.
Also charged in the case is 35-year-old Crystal Carson, of Washington, who has not been arrested, and John Stephen Backner.
The charges stem from the Oct. 4 overdose death of Sean Thomas Caldwell, 41. According to court documents, Caldwell was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a home he shared with his mother in Hickory. The coroner confirmed he had ingested fentanyl and cocaine.
The ensuing investigation was a joint operation between Washington police, Mt. Pleasant Township police and the Washington County Drug Task Force.
Court records accuse Backner of selling Caldwell cocaine in Chartiers Township before his death. Backner, 57, of Chartiers Township, told police he went to purchase the drugs from Elcyzyn in Washington. However, Elcyzyn obtained the cocaine from Carson before giving it to Backner, according to court documents.
Elcyzyn and Backner are both being held on $500,000 bond. Backner is scheduled to appear in plea court at 1 p.m. May 15.