A man and woman were found dead of apparent drug overdoses Thursday in a room at a Pottsville motel, according to Pottsville police and the Schuylkill County coroner.
Charles G. Harig III, 31, whose last known address was in Tamaqua, and Brittany L. Guris, 26, of Saint Clair, were pronounced dead in Room 201 of the Pottsville Motor Inn, 480 Claude A. Lord Blvd. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Deb Detweiller at 10:30 p.m.
Detweiller released the names and addresses of the two Friday after their respective family members were notified.
Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said officers were called to the motel about 9:55 p.m. after an employees discovered two unresponsive people in a rented room.
He said that when first responders arrived, life-saving measures were given and proved unsuccessful with Harig and Guris confirmed to be deceased.
Wojciechowsky said that the subsequent investigation revealed that the two died of an apparent opiate overdose.
In the room, the chief said, drug paraphernalia found by investigators indicated that opiates inside wax packets stamped with the moniker “RECESSION” were inside the bodies of both Harig and Guris.
Wojciechowsky said that security video from the area indicated that no other person had contact with the two from the time they registered for the room until they were found by the employee.
“The investigation is actively continuing and toxicology and lab testing results are also pending,” the chief said.
Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III confirmed that although a drug overdose appears to be the cause of death of both Harig and Guris, a final determination on the cause and manner of death are pending the results of toxicology tests.
As police investigated the scene, the front desk clerk, Dinesh Patel, explained how the man and woman’s lifeless bodies were found.
Patel said he went to Room 201 along with the sister of Harig and knocked several times before opening the door with a key.
Patel said he looked inside the room and noticed a body, then the woman who was with him looked inside and saw the bodies of a man and woman.
Patel said hotel records showed that Harig checked into the motel the day before and was scheduled to stay until Wednesday.