By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on February 27, William Anderson, 60, of Browns Mills, pled guilty to Manslaughter before the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C., in connection with the death of a male victim in Toms River on or about February 28, 2019.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated that at the time of his sentencing on May 2, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of seven years in New Jersey State Prison.
According to Ocean County officials, on February 28, 2019, officers from the Toms River Township Police Department were summoned to the Pelican Inn for a report of an unresponsive male.
Upon arrival, officers found a 29-year-old male apparently suffering from a drug overdose, Ocean County authorities said. Officers immediately attempted life-saving measures.
EMS personnel arrived and were able to re-establish a pulse, OCPO officials say.
Toms River Police said that the victim was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he ultimately expired on March 2, 2019.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that Anderson had supplied heroin and cocaine to a third party on February 27, 2019, which was ultimately supplied to the victim, Ocean County officials stated.
According to OCPO authorities, toxicology analysis later received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of cocaine and fentanyl in the victim’s system.
It was determined through laboratory analysis that the controlled dangerous substances supplied to the victim and distributed by Anderson were, in fact, cocaine and fentanyl - matching the cocaine and fentanyl found in the victim’s system, Ocean County officials say.
Toms River Police said that based upon the toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office opined that the cocaine and fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of his death.
As a consequence, Anderson was charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death on August 20, 2021, Ocean County officials said.
Ocean County authorities said that on August 24, 2021, Anderson was taken into custody without incident by Detectives from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and Pemberton Township Police Department.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, according to Ocean County officials.