Hoosick Falls police say the man who escaped custody last week has been found dead of a suspected drug overdose in Massachusetts.

Multiple police agencies had been searching for 34-year-old Justin Faatz since last Wednesday, who escaped custody from the Hoosick Falls Police Department.

According to police, his body was discovered on Tuesday, nearly 100 miles away in Athol, Massachusetts, during a welfare check. Police say it appears Faatz died from a heroin overdose.

"We’ve dealt with him before in the past. We’ve tried to work with the family. It does hit home a little bit," said Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe.

He says Faatz made it to Bennington, Vermont, the night he escaped. By the next day, he believes Faatz was in Athol.

At this time police still are not sure how Faatz got out of their custody.  

“We’re going to do an investigation and we’re going to go from the beginning to the end and we’ll take action,” Ashe said.

Faatz was picked up last week on a warrant for burglary. He was charged in January after allegedly breaking into a home. 

Ashe believes that was tied to drugs because the stolen items were sold. He says this incident highlights the impact of the heroin epidemic.

“Everybody has to stop pointing fingers at each other," Ashe said. "This is a serious problem and here is an example of what can happen.”

Police say an autopsy is scheduled for a later date. The Northwestern District Attorney's Office in Massachusetts and the Athol Police Department are continuing their investigation.