BERKELEY – Three people have been criminally charged after giving drugs to a man which resulted in his death, officials said.
Michael Wormann, 38, of Toms River, Ryan Thompson, 35, of Trenton, and Tina Martinez, 61, also of Trenton, have been charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death, in connection with the death of a 55-year-old man in Berkeley Township on September 29.
On that day, police responded to a home on Torrey Pines Drive after receiving a report of an unresponsive man. Officers found the body of the victim, already deceased from an apparent drug overdose.
Authorities later discovered that Wormann, Thompson, and Martinez, were involved in the distribution of Fentanyl to the victim on September 28.
Wormann was initially charged with Distribution of Fentanyl, Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Fentanyl. He was taken into custody without incident at his home by Berkeley Township Police Officers, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Martinez was initially charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. She was taken into custody without incident at her home in Trenton, transported to New Jersey State Police Headquarters in Trenton, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Thompson was likewise charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. He was taken into custody without incident at his home in Trenton, and subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where he was lodged pending a detention hearing.
After receiving the toxicology analysis, officials confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system and stated that the fentanyl that the fentanyl.
As a result, Wormann, Thompson and Martinez were all charged with Strict Liability Induced Death on November 14.
Thompson was served with the additional charge as noted above by way of warrant at the Ocean County Jail, where he remains detained pending trial.
Wormann surrendered himself on the additional charge at Berkeley Township Police Headquarters. He was processed, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Martinez was taken into custody without incident on the new charge at her residence in Trenton by Detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department and Trenton City Police Department. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she presently remains lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Trenton City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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