ROCKDALE – Two women, one of whom was diagnosed last year as having used the flesh-eating Krokodil drug, have been arrested on suspicion of dealing heroin.

Wayne Ladd, Will County Cooperative Police Assistance Team director, said an investigation into heroin deals led to a search warrant being executed Wednesday night at Brooke L. Bartnik’s home in the 100 block of Anita Street.

“The search found over 50 needles strewn throughout the house and dozens of empty baggies. There were also small children in the residence,” Ladd said.

Bartnik, 31, and her friend Amber M. Neitzel, 27, of the 1200 block of Connor Avenue in Lockport, were arrested on charges of delivery of drugs and booked into the Will County jail. Amber Neitzel’s sister Angela also was detained by CPAT agents, but was not charged, according to reports.

In October 2013, the Neitzel sisters were treated at Saint Joseph Medical Center, where they were diagnosed as having injected a heroin knockoff drug called Krokodil or Crocodile. The case drew widespread attention after a doctor at the hospital put out a statement saying he had detected the use of Krokodil.

The Neitzel sisters were believed to be among the first Americans to use the drug, which consists of codeine tablets mixed with gasoline, paint thinner, butane and other chemicals and sells for a quarter of the price of heroin. Krokodil kills tissue by destroying blood vessels, which results in gangrene. Angela Neitzel told The Herald-News last year she needed skin grafts after taking the drug.