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UPDATE: NJ Man Charged with Manslaughter After Cocaine Found in Deceased Child’s Blood Test

Cherry Hill

A 27-year-old Cherry Hill man has been charged with the July 23rd death of a two-year-old female, announced Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Cherry Hill Police Department Chief Robert Kempf.

Camden County officials said Mr. Walter H. Clark, 27, of Cherry Hill, is charged with the following offenses:

• one count 1st Degree Aggravated Manslaughter • one count 2nd-degree Aggravated Assault • two counts 2nd degree Endangering 

According to officials, on July 23, 2022, at approximately 7:46 p.m., emergency medical personnel and officers of the Cherry Hill Police Department responded to a residence on the 300 block of Evergreen Avenue in Cherry Hill for a report a 2-year-old who was not breathing.

Upon arrival, officials said officers located a 2-year-old female who was unconscious.

The child was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased at 9:06 p.m.

An investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Cherry Hill Police Department Investigative Unit determined a positive result for controlled dangerous substances, specifically cocaine and fentanyl, in the child’s system.  

Additionally, drug paraphernalia was found in the home near where the child was found unresponsive.

As a result of this investigation, Clark was arrested and charged with 1st-degree Aggravated Manslaughter, 2nd-degree Aggravated Assault, and two counts of 2nd-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A detention hearing on the charges was held today and the court granted the State’s motion for Walter Clark’s detention pending the outcome of his case.

Clark is currently in custody at the Camden County Jail. 

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