TWO LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH STRICT LIABILITY FOR A DRUG INDUCED DEATH
" David Belk & Stephanie O'Neill Of Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Are Charged With The Drug Induced Death Of A Sixteen Year Old Boy On July 3, 2021."
August 28, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ.- On Friday, August 27, 2021 Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Captain James Hawkins of the Little Egg Harbor Police Department announced that on August 26, 2021, David Belk, 45, and Stephanie O’Neill, 44, both of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey.
The two were Charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death; in connection to the Death of a Sixteen-Year-Old male in Little Egg Harbor on July 3, 2021. Belk and O’Neill were also charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Heroin.
On Saturday July 3, 2021, Members of The Little Egg Harbor Police Department responded to a residence on East Susquehanna Drive in Little Egg Harbor Township on a report of an unresponsive sixteen-year-old male lying on the floor. Upon arrival, Police Officers immediately administered lifesaving measures, the young man was transported to Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, New Jersey, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.
An investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that Belk and O’Neill had supplied Heroin and Fentanyl to the victim.
Further investigation and toxicology analysis recently received by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of Heroin and Fentanyl in the victim’s system. Based upon the toxicology analysis, The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the Heroin and Fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of his death. As a consequence, Belk and O’Neill were Charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death.
Ms.O’Neill was taken into custody and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, New Jersey pending a detention hearing.
A warrant has been issued for Mr. Belk’s arrest, and his name has been placed in The National Crime Information Center database. Anyone with information concerning Belk’s whereabouts – or any information at all regarding this investigation - is urged to contact Detective Brant Uricks of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929- 2027, or Detective Christopher Arciniegas of the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department at 609-296- 3666.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Captain Hawkins commend The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Patrol Division, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
UPDATE: Mr. Belk Apprehended.
LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ.- On Saturday. August 28, 2021 Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Captain James Hawkins of the Little Egg Harbor Police Department announced that on August 27, 2021, David Belk, 45, of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey a fugitive from justice relative to an incident that occurred in Little Egg Harbor Township on Saturday, July 3, 2021, was apprehended in Atlantic City by the New Jersey Transit Police.
At the time of his apprehension, Belk was found to be in Possession of Heroin and was Charged accordingly. Belk was processed at Little Egg Harbor Township Police Headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, New Jersey where he will remain lodged pending a detention hearing.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Contained In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER AUGUST 28, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: