BF0A6730-4205-4EB1-9D54-20DEA414D182 - Baller Alert

12-Year-Old NJ Boy Dies From Fentanyl Overdose After His Uncle Forced Him to Clean Drug Lab

Iesha March 25, 2022 News Leave a comment

Prosecutors say a 12-year-old boy died from a fentanyl overdose last month after being forced to clean his uncle’s drug lab without gloves.

According to Camden County prosecutors, Troy Nokes, 35, was charged Thursday with 28 counts related to the Feb. 1 death of his nephew, including manslaughter, hiring a minor in a drug distribution scheme, and endangering the welfare of a child.

The boy died eight days after being discovered unconscious on his school bus in Gloucester Township. The autopsy confirmed that the boy died of a fentanyl overdose.

According to authorities, The boy’s uncle was accused of running a “controlled dangerous chemical production plant” out of his Blackwood home.

In the days before the boy’s overdose, Nokes allegedly manufactured the potent opioid and then told him to clean paraphernalia containing fentanyl, authorities say.

One witness told police that the boy was not wearing gloves.

Joanna Johnson, Nokes‘ co-defendant, was charged with tampering with evidence and hiding Nokes from authorities.