Man Charged In Overdose Death Of 2012 Pennsbury Graduate

A 24-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested on charges that he provided drugs to a Fallsington woman that caused her overdose death in March, authorities announced.

According to information from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, Terrence L. Ridley is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and related felonies and misdemeanors in the March 22 overdose death of 24-year-old Amanda Risko.

He was apprehended Friday in Trenton by members of the Mercer County Narcotics Strike Force on an arrest warrant and is being held in Mercer County, pending extradition.

Risko, a 2012 graduate of Pennsbury High School graduate, died at her home in the 100 block of Taylor Drive. An autopsy determined that she died of drug intoxication from a combination of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, hydroxyzine and cocaine, authorities said.

Police identified Ridley as the supplier of the drugs that were purchased the day before the woman's death.

The friend, identified in a probable cause affidavit as Ronald Filderman, called 911 shortly before 4 p.m. on March 23 to report Risko’s overdose death. Police and paramedics arrived to find Filderman bleeding from self-inflicted cuts to his wrists, the affidavit said.

Filderman later told police that he had given $60 to an acquaintance to buy 10 bags of heroin/fentanyl and $20 worth of crack cocaine, the affidavit said. The acquaintance delivered the drugs to Filderman, who shared them with Risko, authorities said.

According to Filderman, he told Risko to only use one of two remaining bags that were stamped with the word “Rolex,” the affidavit said.

When Filderman returned from work later that day, he found Risko dead of an overdose. Both of the “Rolex” drug packets were empty, the affidavit said. According to the affidavit, Filderman first tried unsuccessfully to kill himself with a drug overdose, then awakened the next day and cut his wrists before calling 911.

Police later interviewed Filderman’s acquaintance, who identified Ridley as the supplier of the lethal drugs. Police then used a cooperating third party to purchase a bundle of drugs in Trenton from Ridley. Five of the 10 bags were stamped “Rolex.”

In addition to drug delivery resulting in death, Ridley is charged with possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a communication facility, and involuntary manslaughter.

Additional arrests are expected in connection with Risko's death, the District Attorney's office said.

"The simple message here is: If you deal drugs, and someone in Bucks County dies as a result, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office will do everything it can to hold you criminally accountable," District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub said in a statement.

Photo via Bucks DA