BRICK — An Ocean County man has been charged in connection with the overdose death of a 27-year-old woman earlier this year, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Roderick Seward, 31, of Brick Township, was charged June 17 with strict liability drug-induced death, distribution of cocaine and possession of cocaine, authorities said.
Brick Township police were called to a residence at about 9:10 a.m. Jan. 26 for a report of an unresponsive woman. Officers found the victim dead from what initially appeared to be a drug overdose, according to prosecutors.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Brick Township police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Seward had supplied cocaine to the victim, authorities said.
Toxicology results later confirmed cocaine was present in the woman’s system, prosecutors said. The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cocaine caused her death.
Seward surrendered to Brick Township police on June 17 and was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
Billhimer credited the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Narcotics Strike Force, Brick Township police, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office for their work on the investigation.
The charges are accusations. Seward is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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