New Jersey man Troy Nokes was charged in the death of his 12-year-old nephew, who authorities say came in contact with the powerful toxin fentanyl while cleaning “paraphernalia” used in his uncle’s alleged manufacturing of the drug.
The unidentified boy was found unresponsive on a school bus on Jan. 24, according to Camden County prosecutors. They alleged that he’d earlier been handling fentanyl-tainted materials without gloves in Nokes’ Blackwood home. The boy was treated by a school nurse until EMTs arrived and transported him to an area hospital, the South Jersey Observer reports. He died a week later.
“A postmortem 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,” prosecutors said.
Charges filed against Nokes, 35, include first degree aggravated manslaughter, second degree employment of a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme and six counts of third degree endangerment in the welfare of a child.
The victim was under the care of his grandmother, NBC News reports.
“She is losing a family member now who’s going into the criminal justice system to be prosecuted,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “But more importantly, she’s lost her 12-year-old grandson.”
The suspect’s ex-girlfriend, Joanna Johnson, was also taken into custody last week. She is accused of tampering with evidence and hindering Nokes’ arrest.
