2 Little Egg Harbor Residents Indicted In Teenager’s Overdose

LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ — Two Little Egg Harbor residents were indicted by a grand jury on Thursday in connection with the death of a teenager who died of an overdose in July, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.

David Belk, 45, and Stephanie O’Neill, 44, have been indicted on these charges: strict liability drug induced death, endangering the welfare of a child, distribution of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of heroin.

On July 3, Little Egg Harbor police responded to a home on East Susquehanna Drive for a report of an unresponsive 16-year-old boy lying on the floor. Officers immediately administered lifesaving techniques before the teenager was transported to Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.

An investigation revealed that heroin and fentanyl were found inside the home. A toxicology analysis received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office found heroin and fentanyl were in the teenager'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.

Belk and O’Neill were both charged with strict liability drug induced death on Aug. 26.

O’Neill was taken into custody and was released by the court on home detention pursuant to New Jersey Bail Reform.

On Aug. 27, Belk was apprehended in Atlantic City by the New Jersey Transit Police, and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his apprehension.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer would like to acknowledge the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater who is handling the case on behalf of the State and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vitim Witness Advocacy 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.

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