Homicide charges filed in overdose

MIFFLINTOWN - A Juniata County man faces charges for homicide and other related offenses after he allegedly supplied another man with drugs that resulted in his death, according to court documents.

Eric Scott Zeiders, 33, of Mifflintown, is charged with criminal homicide, drug delivery resulting in death, involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person, court documents indicate.

Law enforcement officials allege Zieders supplied Randall Thompson, of Mifflintown, with the prescription drug methadone on July 11, which caused Thompson to overdose, according to court documents.

Documents state Thompson's wife, Amy Thompson, informed police that her husband had gone to work on July 11 and when he returned home from work he drank a gallon of water and vomited twice before eating dinner and then going to sleep. Documents indicate Amy Thompson told police she checked on her husband later that evening and said he was gasping for air and unresponsive. Randall Thompson subsequently was transported to Lewistown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 11 p.m. that night.

On July 13, Amy Thompson notified police that Zeiders had left a message on her husband's cell phone referring to something Zeiders had given Thompson, and Zeiders wanted to know how Thompson was feeling, according to documents.

On July 19, Zeiders was interviewed by police and admitted to giving Randall Thompson the drug, documents indicate. Zeiders also told police Randall Thompson kept asking him for help with physical pain he was experiencing, according to documents.

Zeiders was arraigned Monday, and a preliminary hearing in the case is set for Nov. 4.