Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Brick Township Chief Nils Bergquist announce the arrest of Jesse Hay, 25, of South Plainfield, for causing the drug induced death of Anthony Busby, 24, of Brick.
Hay was charged with strict liability for drug induced death, reckless manslaughter, distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl.
His bail was set by Judge James M. Blaney, J.S.C. at $250,000 no 10%.
The case stems from a December 19, 2014 incident. On that date at 6:47 p.m., the Brick Township police and EMS were dispatched to a Marilyn Drive for a report of an unconscious male.
Upon arrival, they found Anthony Busby unresponsive. Busby was pronounced deceased at 7:18 p.m. by Dr. Hinfey from Newark Beth Israel Hospital via telemetry.
Authorities immediately processed the scene, collecting all evidence of suspected narcotic activity and isolating evidence that could possibly lead to the dealer responsible for selling Busby the illegal narcotic. Found at the scene were several white wax folds stamped with “730 Virus” in green ink and another ten wax folds stamped “Strike Dead” with the picture of the grim reaper in red and black ink.
In the following months, the partnering agencies, with assistance from the Edison Police Department, North Plainfield Police Department and the South Plainfield Police Department, would develop information identifying Hay as a suspect.
On December 20, 2014, Dr. Ian Hood of the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office performed a post mortem examination on Mr. Busby’s body providing the final necessary piece to charge Hay with Busby’s death by confirming that Busby’s death was drug induced, caused by an excessive amount of fentanyl in his system. The Medical Examiner’s report also confirmed that the wax folds stamped “730 Virus” and “Strike Dead” both contained the deadly additive Fentanyl.
Hay, who has been incarcerated continuously since his (12/23/14) arrest was served his drug induced death arrest warrant today at 12:45 p.m. in the Middlesex County Jail by members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Brick Township Police Department.