Woman Dies After Fentanyl ODs At Bergen Mall, 2 Arrested: Officials

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — One of the women hospitalized after overdosing on fentanyl in a Hackensack mall died over the weekend, and police have arrested two people in connection with the case, authorities confirmed.

Michelle Edoo, a 29-year-old woman, who — an online fundraiser said — works at the Cheesecake Factory at the Shops at Riverside, lost her life Saturday, police officials said Friday at a press conference in Hackensack.

"This is unacceptable," Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. "Law enforcement is aggressively identifying dealers and prosecuting those responsible for bringing this deadly drug into our communities."

Garfield Jones, a 48-year-old cook, and Robert McCrae, a 52-year-old student bus aide, were arrested this week and charged with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and intent to distribute heroin, respectively, prosecutors said.

Chief of detectives Jason Love and prosecutor Musella also said the prosecutor’s office is "sounding the alarm" about fentanyl flowing into communities.

In 2022 alone, 125 people died of a fentanyl-related overdose, and more than 32 kilograms of fentanyl were seized across Bergen County — in raw form or in laced pills or other drugs. Bergen County law enforcement officers also deployed naloxone 376 times.

Edoo, of Bergenfield, was one of four women who were taken to the hospital as a result of the overdoses on March 15, and was one of five involved who were revived with naloxone and CPR, Patch reported at the time. She had apparently overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl, Musella said.

Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, is claiming more lives in Bergen County every year — to wit, since 2015, the number of fentanyl-involved deaths per year have increased by 38 and peaked in 2021 at 176. The opioid, the chief and prosecutor warned, is often laced with other street drugs to increase the potency.

"You have to assume that any drug, whether powder, pill or vegetation that is shared on the street contains fentanyl, and that it can kill you," prosecutor Musella said.

Perhaps the most surprising statistic was that since 2015, the percentage of suspected heroin submissions containing fentanyl rose from 8% to 98%.

"This is not Russian Roulette," chief Love said. "If you take drugs or medication not prescribed from a doctor, it will contain fentanyl."

Love then said that while he can talk about all of the things local law enforcement is doing to act against drug dealers, it still is not enough.

"As I speak, there is a family planning a funeral," he said.

Edoo was the mother of a 9-year-old daughter and a GoFundMe has been set up for her family, according to NJ.com.

The GoFundMe describes Edoo as the kind of person who would show up to work on her days off to check in on her friends.

"She was the one always ready to dance to some music and have fun," the GoFundMe reads. "More than anything, Michelle worshipped her daughter."

Investigation into the death of Edoo and circumstances therein is still ongoing, Chief Love said, adding that he asks for public understanding that processing evidence can take a "tremendous amount of time."

"Fentanyl is an indiscriminate, chemical enemy of ours," he said. "And we have to figure out what we can do. There has never been a more risky time in our society for people who take illicit drugs."