NJ Boy, 12, Fatally Overdoses On Fentanyl On School Bus, Uncle Charged: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two people were arrested on charges stemming from the death of a 12-year-old boy who was found unresponsive on a school bus, authorities said.

The boy was found on Jan. 24 on his school bus and died at a hospital on Feb. 1, the police and prosecutor’s office said. The boy died from drug intoxication from fentanyl, according to authorities.

The child's uncle, Troy Nokes, 35, of Blackwood, was charged on Monday with aggravated manslaughter, strict liability drug-induced death, maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme, six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, six counts of witness tampering, one count of tampering with evidence, two counts of hindering apprehension, two counts of aggravated assault and seven other related charges, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and Gloucester Township Police Department.

Joanna Johnson — whose age and place of residence and date of arrest were not given — was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension of Nokes, authorities said.

Nokes and Johnson were sent to the Camden County Prison pending a pretrial detention hearing, according to the officials. It is unclear if bail for either was set.

Students on the bus initially believed the boy was sleeping, NBC Philadelphia reported, adding that a school nurse performed CPR on the child until paramedics arrived.

Nokes was accused of manufacturing fentanyl at the boy’s Blackwood home the weekend before the boy was found on the school bus, the police and prosecutor’s office said. Nokes had directed the boy, who was not wearing gloves at the time, to clean paraphernalia that contained fentanyl, according to authorities.

Police asked anyone with information to contact the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office detective Lateasha Jones at 856-225-8656 or Gloucester Township police detective Mark Grodzielanek at 856-374-5718. Tips can also be sent anonymously to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.

Earlier this week, the Gloucester Township School District unanimously agreed to place a plaque on school grounds honoring the boy.

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