Boyfriend charged in drug death

BY STACI WILSON

A Montrose man who allegedly administered a deadly drug cocktail of cocaine and morphine to his 31-year-old girlfriend last year in aNew Milfordhotel room now faces charges related to the woman’s death.

Eugene Parrish faces one count of drug delivery resulting in death and one involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with the June 20 death of Kathryn Pelka, of Tunkhannock.

According to police, Parrish admitted he injected Pelka with what he believed was heroin immediately prior to her death at the Endless Mountain Lodge, Rt. 11, New Milford.

Autopsy results indicated Pelka died as a result of the “combined pharmacologic effects of cocaine and morphine.”

The charges were filed Monday, Jan. 16 in New Milford District Court by Tpr. Greg Deck.

Bail for Parrish was set at $50,000 in this case. A preliminary hearing on the matter was scheduled for Jan. 23.

At the time of Pelka’s death, Parrish was awaiting sentencing in Susquehanna County Court on an unrelated case.

On May 4, 2011, Parrish pleaded no contest to a charged of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age stemming from an April 11, 2010 incident in Dimock Twp.

He was sentenced in that case on August 18, 2011 to serve nine to 23 months and 16 days in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility.