Advertisement
Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Gloucester Twp. Police Chief David Harkins announced the arrest of Troy Nokes for causing the overdose death of a 12-year-old child.
Troy Nokes, 35, of Blackwood, was charged on March 21, 2022 with first degree Aggravated Manslaughter, first-degree Strict Liability Drug-Induced Death, first degree Maintaining a CDS Production Facility, second degree Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme, six counts of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, six counts of third degree Witness Tampering, one count of fourth degree Tampering with Evidence, two counts of third degree Hindering Apprehension, two counts of third degree Aggravated Assault, along with seven other related charges.
Advertisement
On January 24, 2022, detectives from the 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.
The child ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on February 1, 2022.
Advertisement
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.
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.
Investigation into this matter is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Lateasha Jones at (856) 225-8656 or Gloucester Twp. Police Detective Mark Grodzielanek at 856-374-5718.
Tips can also be sent anonymously to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.