South River Men Charged With Suppling Drugs Causing The Death Of Barnegat Woman
Friday, April 25, 2025, 10:45 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Two South River, New Jersey, men and local drug peddlers who were initially charged in February 2025 with multiple narcotics offenses were additionally charged on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in connection with allegedly supplying a lethal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin to a 34-year-old woman who was found dead inside a Barnegat Township home on February 26, 2025.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Jeffrey Zachary, 56, and Ronald Zachary, 59, both of South River, New Jersey, were both formally charged with first-degree Strict Liability for a Drug-Induced Death.
Charges Are The Result Of A Months-Long Investigation
The charges stem from an investigation that began on February 26, 2025, when members of the Barnegat Township Police Department responded to a 911 Emergency Call reporting an unresponsive woman inside a Barnegat Township home. Upon arrival, Police Officers found the lifeless body of a 34-year-old woman, who had apparently succumbed to a drug overdose.
During the initial investigation, Detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, and the Barnegat Township Police Department quickly uncovered that Jeffrey Zachary and Ronald Zachery had supplied the lethal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin to the woman.
On February 27, 2025, Detectives established stationary and mobile surveillance on Jeffrey Zachary. Later that day, members of the Barnegat Township Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Zachary. During a court-authorized search of the vehicle, Detectives uncovered and seized quantities of crack cocaine. Zachary was subsequently taken into custody without incident.
During the arrest, Detectives subsequently executed a court-authorized search of Zachary’s South River residence. During the search, Detectives located and seized 70 wax folds of heroin and additional quantities of crack cocaine.
Following the discovery of the illicit narcotics, Zachary was formally charged on February 27, 2025, with Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Crack Cocaine; two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; three counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Zachary was processed on the charges and was lodged in the Ocean County Jail and was subsequently released on bail monitoring conditions.
Ronald Zachrey was present at Jeffery Zachary’s South River home when Detectives executed the court-authorized search and was taken into custody on February 27, 2025. Accordingly, Ronald Zachery was formally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Alprazolam with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin; Possession of Crack Cocaine; Possession of Alprazolam; and Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute.
Zachery was processed on the charges and released on a summons, with a complaint pending court appearances in Ocean County Superior Court in Toms River, New Jersey.
Further investigation and toxicology results received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the woman’s system. Based on the results, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the woman’s system resulted in her death. Based on the toxicology and the Medical Examiner’s findings, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Jeffrey Zachary and Ronald Zachery were both formally charged with first-degree Strict Liability for a Drug-Induced Death, and warrants were issued for their arrests.
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, both Zachary and Zachery were taken into custody in South River, New Jersey, without incident. Both men were processed on the charges and were remanded to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing in Ocean County Superior Court.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
