The trial is underway for 32-year-old Jeffrey VanArk of New London, who is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide, after authorities believe he was connected with the overdose death of Brandon Shadduck in 2014.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded to a welfare check of Shadduck after he had not been heard from in some time, when they found him dead in his apartment.
A toxicology report revealed that he had died due to an overdose of methadone.
Police say that text messages between VanArk and Shadduck link their connection and VanArk is accused of getting methadone from a local clinic and selling it to others.
If convicted of first-degree homicide, VanArk could spend up to 40 years in prison.