Ferguson Township police announced that Corinne Pena, whose body was found on the side of Plainfield Road on Sunday, likely died of a drug overdose.
As of Thursday, the department had little information on Pena, how she got to the State College area, or what she was doing in the days leading up to her death.
Now, police are saying that Pena was found dead inside her friend’s home on Saturday night. That friend transported her body and dumped it on the roadside in Pine Grove Mills, where it was found early Sunday morning.
‘Although toxicology results are pending, evidence indicates Corinne died as a result of a drug overdose,’ the statement from police said.
The car that was used to transport her body has been located and police are still searching it for additional evidence. Thre are criminal charges pending and police said that more information will be available once those charges are filed. District attorney Stacy Parks Miller said Thursday that ‘abuse of a corpse’ is a crime that was likely committed in this instance.
Police also offered a reminder that Drug Overdose Response Immunity exists in Pennsylvania. This means that if someone is believed to be in a state of medical emergency due to a drug overdose, anyone who calls police is immune from prosecution if they ‘summon aid, give their name, and remain with the person until emergency responders arrive.’
