Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 22, 2025, Jeffrey Zachary, 56, and Ronald Zackery, 59, both of South River, were charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in connection with the death of a 34-year-old female in Barnegat Township on February 26, 2025.
On February 26, 2025, Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department responded to a residence for a report of an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, Officers discovered the body of the victim, already deceased from an apparent drug overdose. A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and Barnegat Township Police Department Detective Bureau, revealed that Jeffrey Zachary and Ronald Zackery had supplied heroin/fentanyl to the victim.
On February 27, 2025, Detectives from the aforementioned agencies established stationary and mobile surveillance on Jeffrey Zachary. On that date, Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department effectuated a motor vehicle stop on a motor vehicle operated by Zachary. As a result of a court- authorized search warrant, Detectives seized quantities of crack cocaine from the vehicle, and Zachary was taken into custody without incident. Detectives subsequently executed a court-authorized search warrant on Zachary’s residence in South River. As a result, Detectives seized approximately 70 wax folds of heroin and quantities of crack cocaine.
Zachary was charged with Distribution of Heroin, Distribution of Crack Cocaine, two counts of Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, three counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, two counts of Possession of Heroin, three counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine, and Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Zachary was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Ronald Zackery was present at Jeffrey Zachary’s South River residence at the time of the search warrant execution on February 27th; Zackery was taken into custody at the residence without incident, and charged with Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Alprazolam with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Alprazolam, and Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Zackery was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Further investigation and toxicology analysis recently received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of heroin/fentanyl and cocaine in the victim’s system. Based upon this toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the heroin/fentanyl and cocaine found in the victim’s system was the cause of her death. As a consequence, on April 22, 2025, both Jeffrey Zachary and Ronald Zackery were charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death, and a warrant was issued for their arrest. On April 23, 2025, both men were taken into custody at the residence in South River by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, and South River Police Department without incident. Both defendants were transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they are presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, South River Police Department, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collective 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).