Man arrested may have link to apparent OD

A Fostoria man was arrested in Tiffin Sunday afternoon in connection to a man’s death early Saturday morning.

Joseph E. Worth, 36, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, following his arrest in the parking lot of Walmart, 2801 W. SR 18.

David R. Vaughn, 28, of Bascom, and John E. Panuto Jr., 25, of Tiffin, were found dead of a suspected heroin overdose at 37 Harrison St., Detective Lt. Mark Marquis of Tiffin Police Department said.

Marquis said evidence showed Vaughn purchased the heroin that caused his death from Worth.

Worth was taken to Seneca County Jail.

Heroin was found in Worth’s pocket when he was arrested, said Detective Chuck Boyer, unit coordinator of Seneca County Drug Task Force – METRICH Enforcement Unit.

The unit, with officers from Tiffin and Fostoria police departments, conducted a search warrant at Worth’s residence at Nye’s Trailer Park, 1521 N. Countyline St., Lot 76, Sunday evening.
Boyer said the search warrant was signed by Judge Mark Repp of Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court, and officers found evidence indicative of drug trafficking. They found scales and drug packaging, he said.

The case was under investigation Sunday, and Marquis said additional drug charges were expected to be filed against Worth in the future. The case was being prepared for presentation to a Seneca County grand jury.

Previously, Worth spent about one month in prison at Lorain Correctional Institution on a charge of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was released in November 2015, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s website.

Originally published in the Advertiser Tribune on December 19, 2016.