Crime & Safety
2 Union County Locals Guilty Of Causing Overdose Death: Prosecutor
Breaking: A Clark woman and Elizabeth man gave a Linden man a stronger version of heroin which caused his overdose death, prosecutor says.
CLARK, NJ — A Clark woman and an Elizabeth man pleaded guilty to providing a Linden man with the drugs that killed him in 2015, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Wednesday.
- See Related: Clark Woman Charged In Overdose Death
Alexandria Marcino, 25, of Clark pleaded guilty to one count of strict liability for a drug-induced death and aggravated assault against a police officer for physically attacking a Union County Homicide Task Force detective during the course of the investigation.
Joseph Colatrella, 27, of Elizabeth pleaded guilty to a single count of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
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On Aug. 6, 2015 shortly before 11:30 a.m., family members of Bruce Jirinec Jr., 31, of Linden found him dead in his home with acetyl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid similar to heroin, but far more potent, according to Park.
Drug paraphernalia and narcotics were recovered at the scene, authorities said.
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It was discovered that Jirinec contacted Marcino about the drugs and got them from Colatrella a mere hours before his death, according to a joint investigation involving the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Linden Police Department.
A multi-agency search concluded in March in Woodbridge with the arrest of both Marcino and Colatrella. The search was conducted by members of the Clark Police Department, Union County Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office assisting Homicide Task Force detectives in locating Marcino and Colatrella and making the arrests.
The State will request state prison sentences of five and three years for Marcino and Colatrella, respectively, when they are sentenced March 31 before state Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch.
(Photo, provided: Pictured from left - Alexandria Marcino, 24, of Clark and Joseph Colatrella, 26, of Elizabeth)
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