November 30, 2023

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 14, 2023, Michael Wormann, 38 of Toms River, Ryan Thompson, 35, of Trenton, and Tina Martinez, 61, also of Trenton, were charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death, in connection with the death of a 55-year-old male in Berkeley Township on September 29, 2023.

On September 29, 2023, Officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a residence on Torrey Pines Drive for a report of an unresponsive male.  Upon arrival, Officers discovered the body of the victim – already deceased from an apparent drug overdose.

A continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, revealed that Wormann, Thompson, and Martinez, were involved in the distribution of Fentanyl to the victim on September 28, 2023.

On September 30, 2023, Wormann was initially charged with Distribution of Fentanyl, Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Fentanyl.  He was taken into custody without incident at his residence by Berkeley Township Police Officers, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

On October 17, 2023, Martinez was initially charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl.  She was taken into custody without incident at her residence in Trenton, transported to New Jersey State Police Headquarters in Trenton, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

On October 20, 2023, Thompson was likewise charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl.  He was taken into custody without incident at his residence in Trenton, and subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where he was lodged pending a detention hearing.

Further investigation and toxicology analysis recently received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system.  Based upon the toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office opined that the fentanyl found in the victim’s system was the cause of his death.  As a consequence, Wormann, Thompson and Martinez were all charged with Strict Liability Induced Death on November 14, 2023.  

On November 14, 2023, Thompson was served with the additional charge as noted above by way of warrant at the Ocean County Jail, where he remains detained pending trial.

On November 15, 2023, Wormann surrendered himself on the additional charge at Berkeley Township Police Headquarters. He was processed, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

On November 30, 2023, Martinez was taken into custody without incident on the new charge at her residence in Trenton by Detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department and Trenton City Police Department.  She was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she presently remains lodged pending a detention hearing.

Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Trenton City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

R.P.C.  3.6(b)(6).

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