According to authorities, an arrest was made in Lehigh County in 2022 in connection with a fatal drug overdose

Authorities have arrested a man they believe played a role in the drug overdose death of a 23-year-old woman in Alburtis two years ago.

Nathaniel Tilahun, 28, of Macungie is charged with unlawful trafficking of drugs resulting in death, unlawful possession of drugs with intent to traffic, unlawful use of a communication facility and unlawful possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person.

The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office announced the charges Friday afternoon.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said Alburtis police were called to a home in the first block of West Second Street shortly after 11:35 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2022, for a report of a woman unresponsive. The Lehigh County Coroner's Office pronounced Caylin Strong, who lived at the home, dead.

An autopsy revealed that Strong died of fentanyl poisoning; her death was initially ruled an accident by Daniel A. Buglio.

An investigation later revealed that Strong had purchased the pills from a man later identified as Tilahun, Holihan said.

Tilahun was arraigned Thursday evening before District Judge Jacob E. Hammond, who set bail at $500,000. He was remanded to the Lehigh County Jail in lieu of bail. Tilahun must appear in court again for a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for Sept. 25 at 1:15 p.m. before Hammond. A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to move the case to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

A representative from the Lehigh County Public Defender's Office said Tilahun has not yet been assigned an attorney.

Strong was a graduate of Emmaus High School and had a passion for cooking and worked at The Shelby restaurant in Allentown, according to her obituary.

The case was investigated by the Alburtis Police Department and Det. Matthew Tretter of the Lehigh County Drug Task Force. Prosecution is being handled by Craig W. Scheetz, Lehigh County Assistant District Attorney.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann can be reached at [email protected].