Police, Fire & Courts

Dealer in Toms River Fentanyl Death, 36, Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

by
Daniel Nee
June 20, 2023

Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)

An Ocean County man pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge Monday after admitting his role in the drug-induced death of a 35-year-old woman in Toms River on Nov. 24, 2020.

Jehmar Barrett, 36, of Lacey Township, entered the plea before the Superior Court Judge Kimarie Rahill. At the time of his sentencing on August 18, 2023, prosecutors will be seeking a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison.

The case began after Toms River police officers responded to a residence on Alabama Avenue for a report of an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of the victim, who was already deceased from an apparent drug overdose. The subsequent investigation determined Barrett distributed heroin and cocaine to the victim on Nov. 23, 2020. The victim was not identified by prosecutors in any press statements released on the case.

Further investigation and toxicology analysis received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system. It was determined through laboratory analysis that the substance distributed by Barrett was initially believed to be heroin but was, in fact, fentanyl, matching the fentanyl found in the victim’s system. Based upon the toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office opined that the fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of her death.

On April 29, 2021, Barrett was charged in connection with the victim’s death.

On April 30, 2021, Barrett surrendered himself to Toms River Township Police Department Headquarters. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.