Pregnant South Jersey Woman Dies Of Heroin OD: 1 Charged In Death, Authorities Say

A woman is accused of selling heroin to a pregnant South Jersey woman who died after an overdose, authorities said.

Alycha Rodriguez, 22, of Brooklyn is charged with first-degree strict liability of drug induced death, second-degree violation of a law to protect public health and safety, and third-degree charges of possession and distribution of heroin, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor said on Wednesday.

Lower Township Police discovered responded to the 100 block of Willow Drive in North Cape May for a report of a possible overdose involving a 30-year-old woman on Nov. 15. Responding officers reported that she was deceased when they arrived, and that she was pregnant.

The name of the deceased was not released due to the ongoing investigation.

On the same day, Middle Township Police in the area of the Beach House Motel say they saw Rodriguez chasing two men out of a room at the motel. She chased them into the Wal-Mart parking lot, where the three engaged in a fight, police said.

Police soon learned that the two men were committing a robbery inside the room.

Police arrested Rodriguez, who was temporarily staying at the motel, and one of the men. However, the other man fled the scene, and police are currently attempting to identify him.

William Murray 28, of the Villas section in Lower Township, was charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was placed in the Cape May County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

Rodriguez was charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. She was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

After a joint investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lower and Middle Township police departments, it was determined that Rodriguez was responsible for selling the heroin to the pregnant woman who overdosed, authorities said. Rodriguez was hit with the additional charges, and her bail was increased to $1 million.

Taylor advises that persons convicted of a first degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison; persons convicted of a second degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and persons convicted of third degree crimes are subject to a term of imprisonment of 3 to 5 years.

Taylor urges anyone who has information concerning this case or any illegal activity within the community to report it anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers, 609-465-2800 or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.

Patch file photo