GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A 35-year-old Blackwood man, Troy Nokes was charged on Monday for first degree manslaughter and for causing the drug overdose death of a 12-year-old child.
Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Gloucester Twp. Police Chief David Harkins reported On January 24, 2022, detectives from Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Gloucester Twp. Police Department were notified that a 12-year-old boy was found unresponsive on his school bus.
“Life-saving measures were performed by the school nurse until EMS arrived and transported the child to the hospital. Officers and school staff took immediate actions to ensure that no other children or staff were in any danger,” Chief Harkin said. “The child ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on February 1, 2022. A post-mortem exam was conducted by the City of Philadelphia Office of the Medical Examiner’s Office, which determined the cause of death was Drug Intoxication, specifically fentanyl.”
“The child resided at a home in Blackwood, where Nokes, his uncle, is accused of manufacturing fentanyl the weekend prior to the child’s death,” according to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay. “Nokes is also charged with directing the deceased child to clean paraphernalia that contained fentanyl. Witnesses indicate that the child was not wearing gloves at the time.”
Joanna Johnson, Nokes’ co-defendant, is charged with Tampering with Evidence and Hindering Apprehension (of Nokes).
Both Nokes and Johnson were arrested by the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force (RFTF). They are currently detained at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing.