Oceanport Couple Charged In Man's Heroin-Induced Death

EATONTOWN, NJ — An Oceanport couple was charged with inducing a man's death after selling him heroin in Eatontown, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

George Cucuzella and Nicole Ricciardi were arrested Wednesday in connection with Raul Garcia's fatal overdose. Authorities found Garcia on Dec. 2 lying on the bathroom floor of an Eatontown motel room. He was unconscious and not breathing.

The MCPO and Eatontown police determined Garcia, of Keansburg, purchased heroin twice Dec. 1 — once near his motel room and then at an Eatontown gas station.

The Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Garcia died from "acute combined drug toxicity due to fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and heroin," according to the MCPO. His death was ruled an accident.

Authorities linked Cucuzella, Ricciardi and an unidentified man who has since died to the drug sales.

Cucuzella, 30, and Ricciardi, 32, were charged with first-degree strict liability of drug-induced death. Both face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

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