Lacey Man Caused Death of Toms River Woman by Lacing Heroin With Fentanyl

A Lacey man has turned himself into police after being charged with Strict Liability Induced Death for mixing heroin with fentanyl then selling it to a woman who later overdosed in Toms River.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little issued a joint statement on Friday announcing the charges against 34-year old Jehmar Barrett for causing the death of the 35-year old woman on November 24, 2020.

That's the day Toms River Police Officers found her dead from an apparent drug overdose in a home on Alabama Avenue.

An investigation by Toms River Detectives and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit led them to learn that Barrett allegedly sold her Heroin and Cocaine the day before.

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Barrett was initially charged with Distribution of Heroin, Distribution of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine and Eluding.

When investigators received the toxicology results of the deceased victim, they found out there was Fentanyl in her system.

"It was determined through laboratory analysis that the controlled dangerous substance allegedly sold to the victim by Barrett – initially believed to be Heroin – was, in fact, Fentanyl, matching the Fentanyl found in victim’s system."

The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office was then able to determine the Fentanyl is what caused her death.

Barrett was then charged with Strict Liability Induced Death on Thursday of this week and turned himself to Toms River Police this morning.

He was brought to the Ocean County Jail where he remains pending a detention hearing.