Wife Blames Drugs For Husband’s Death At Prison In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A 53-year-old inmate recently died while in the custody of Northern State Prison in Essex County, New Jersey, leaving his devastated wife questioning whether drugs played a role in his unexpected death.

John Depta was found unresponsive in his cell at Northern State Prison in Newark around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. He was pronounced dead by medical staff shortly afterwards, a New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) spokesperson said.

Depta was jailed on charges of theft on Sept. 27, 2013, according to the NJDOC spokesperson, who referred additional questions to the Essex County Medical Examiner’s office.

No cause of death was immediately available.

Depta’s wife, Lisa, told Patch that she suspects her husband’s death was “drug-related.” She said that her husband may have started using Suboxone and/or Fentanyl once he was transferred to Northern State Prison (NSP).

At the time, her husband had a history of drug and alcohol use that wasn’t addressed “because the prisons do not offer anything to help these people,” Depta told Patch.

After the couple got married and moved to Parsippany – a short distance from John’s hometown of East Rutherford – her husband continued to struggle with alcohol and drug use, but seemed to be getting better, she said.

And then in September of 2012, he was arrested again, she said.

Depta said that her husband “kept a low profile” in prison and stayed out of trouble. He was "doing well, receiving counseling and was in good spirits,” and was due to be released on parole March 10 and be transferred to a halfway house until July, she said.

But then, Depta got a call from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office at 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 1 with some life-changing news… her husband was found dead in his cell.

“Prior to being incarcerated at NSP, John was at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton where there was no access to drugs,” Depta said. “John did not get high the whole time he was there. If he wasn't transferred to NSP, he would still be with us today. I am very well aware it was his choice, but I have a problem knowing that he was in the state's custody and should have been protected. This never should have happened. Somebody has to be held accountable for his death.”

“Is his death suspicious?” Depta queried. “I'm not sure, but the medical examiner's office told me that he came up positive for two things. John was on an antidepressant and that can cause a false positive, but what can the other be?”

Depta said that authorities are “too quick to put people in prison/jail” instead of offering them treatment for their drug addictions.

“I thought he was safe [in prison], but I was wrong,” Depta said. “[John] passed away in the state's custody. I have been in South Carolina for the last five months trying to work and make a home for John and I. We had so much to look forward to and now it's all gone.”

Depta said that she’s reached out to the NJDOC for more information about her husband’s cause of death, but has only gotten stonewalled.

“They will not tell me anything,” she said. “What about my closure? Don't I have the right to know what happened to my husband? I am so broken, empty, lost and upset and I don't know what to do.”

• See related article: 1 In 10 New Jersey Inmates Will Likely Die In Jail, Report Says

INMATE DEATHS AT NORTHERN STATE PRISON

On the day after Thanksgiving in 2017, an inmate died while locked in his cell at Northern State Prison.

According to his family, there was no sign that anything was wrong with the 46-year-old, who they called a "vibrant soul" with a deep love for the Bible. They later demanded a private autopsy to see if any "foul play" was involved in his sudden passing.

• See related article: Prisoner's Family Demands Autopsy After Unexplained Sudden Death

In November of 2016, prison authorities found a male inmate lifeless in his cell around 9 p.m., pronouncing him dead about 30 minutes later.

• See related article: Inmate Dies At Newark's Northern State Prison

According to the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Northern State Prison is located on 43 acres in Newark and houses a "diverse offender population" in General Population, Special Needs, Administrative Close Supervision units (inmates who have incurred serious disciplinary charges) and Therapeutic Community units (addictive behaviors).

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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