Man Admits Role In Burlington County Teen's Fatal OD: Prosecutor

A Burlington County man who allegedly wanted to get a teenage girl addicted to heroin pleaded guilty to selling her the drug that resulted in a fatal overdose, authorities announced.

Austin F. Cooper, 22, of Willingboro, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death in exchange for an eight-year sentence in New Jersey state prison, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

Cooper admitted to delivering 10 bags of herointo 15-year-old Madison McDonald at her home in Evesham Township. Her father found unresponsive but alive after she overdosed on Dec. 26, 2017.
She was transported to Virtua Marlton Hospital before being flown to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She was pronounced dead at CHOP on Dec. 28.

During a pretrial detention hearing, Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey said investigators discovered a message from Cooper that read "I want to get a girl addicted to heroin," the Courier Post reports. He said they found the message during a warrant search of Cooper's cell phone and computer. He claimed Cooper then bragged following her death.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 6.