Overdose Death Leads To Guilty Plea For Wallingford Man

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man pleaded guilty this week to a federal charge of distributing drugs that were used in the overdose death of a 38-year-old man late last year in Wallingford. Timothy Estridge, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday in New Haven federal court to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, amphetamine, U.S. States Attorney John H. Durham announced. The matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Dec. 16, 2017, the Wallingford Police Department and emergency medical personnel responded to a Wallingford residence after a 9-1-1 call reported the untimely death of a 38-year-old male. To sign up for Wallingford breaking news alerts and more, click here.

“The caller who reported the death did not leave contact information and was not on scene when responders arrived,” according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office. “The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, where investigators seized evidence of illicit drug use, including a small plastic baggy containing approximately eight suspected oxycodone pills, a glass dish with white powder residue, a broken credit card, pieces of wax folds commonly used as heroin packaging, a used plastic syringe, and prescription pill bottles.

“One of the pill bottles recovered was an empty bottle, in Estridge’s name, for 30 10-milligram Adderall pills.”

The State of Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner determined the victim’s cause of death to be intoxication of a combination of heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam, amphetamine, and ethanol.

The investigation revealed that, on Dec. 1, 2017, Estridge filled a prescription for Adderall, which contains amphetamine, and subsequently distributed the pills to the victim, according to authorities.

The investigation further revealed that, on multiple occasions between July and December 2017, Estridge possessed and distributed heroin and amphetamines, authorities said.

Estridge faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 9, 2019. He is detained pending sentencing.

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