Morris County officials announce the filing of a first-degree Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death charge against Quamaine T. King, 31, of Paterson. The charge arises from a fatal drug overdose that occurred in Riverdale on January 10.
According to police, on January 10, law enforcement responded to a 9-1-1 report of an unresponsive male in the bathroom of Target in Riverdale. The male victim, later identified as M.R., 23, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office has certified the cause of M.R.’s death as fentanyl and heroin intoxication.
Based on subsequent investigation, it is alleged that Quamaine T. King distributed heroin and fentanyl to M.R. on January 10, in Paterson. It is further alleged that M.R.’s death resulted from his ingestion of these substances, distributed by King to M.R.
According to officials, King has been charged with Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death. This statute provides that any person who manufactures distributes or dispenses any number of controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death that results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance.
Acting Prosecutor Carroll specifically commended Supervising Assistant Prosecutors Chris Schellhorn and Brad Seabury, in addition to Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang, Captain Jan Monrad, Sergeant Michael Gomez, and Detective Jason Gould. ,
“Each day we are losing entirely too many members of our community to drug overdoses, and drug-related deaths have only increased due to the multi-faceted challenges posed by COVID-19," Morris County Acting Prosecutor Robert Carroll said. "The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Chiefs of Police Association members are resolute in our commitment to investigating and enforcing applicable state law, which calls for prosecuting distributors, whose sales lead to drug-related deaths, as first-degree offenders."
If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.