Crime & Safety

18-Year-Old Ocean County, N.J. Man Dead From Tainted 'Helly Kitty' Heroin

Wax folds stamped with "Hello Kitty" character found to contain Fentanyl and other toxic elements, prosecutor says

by Patricia A. Miller

A 18-year-old was unconscious and unresponsive when police responded to a 911 call.

Soon after, at 10 a.m. on June 21, he was dead.

Several wax folds stamped with the "Hello Kitty" character were found by his side in his Manahawkin, N.J. home, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

Now law enforcement officials fear that tainted heroin might be being sold in Ocean County, and perhaps elsewhere throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Coronato said the white powdery substance in the "Hello Kitty" wax folds found at the scene was tested by the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit and was found to be almost entirely composed of Fentanyl, with an undetermined cutting agent.

The young man was pronounced dead via telemetry at 10:13am by Dr. Ariyapraki from Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Coronato said his death may have been caused by a batch of heroin that included toxic elements that would be fatal without medical attention.

Anyone with information regarding individuals selling the “Hello Kitty Character" heroin stamp or with information on possible dealers should contact:  the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Operations Group at (732) 929-2027 ext. 3235.






Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from New Providence-Berkeley Heights