Delran Man Charged In Riverside Man's Overdose Death: Police

DELRAN, NJ — A Delran man has been charged in connection with the death of a Riverside resident who fatally overdosed on fentanyl in 2018, authorities announced.

David Bender, 27, was arrested by Delran police on Aug. 20 in connection with the October 2018 overdose death of 38-year-old Kenneth Rocco, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina, Delran Township Police Chief Alfonso A. Parente Jr., and Riverside Township Police Chief William T. Eliason announced.

Police found Rocco while conducting a wellness check on a man who was locked in the bedroom of his apartment and was unresponsive. Rocco was pronounced deceased on the scene, police said.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that Rocco’s death was due to fentanyl toxicity, authorities said. Through further investigation, police said they discovered that Rocco bought the fentanyl from Bender.

Bender was charged with first-degree strict liability for a drug-induced death and third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS).

Bender was lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court. The case will then be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.