Investigators Bust Drug Dealer Who Sold Batch That Killed Woman, Cops Say

A Trenton man was arrested by New Jersey authorities on a warrant alleging that he provided drugs to a Falls Township woman who died of an overdose.

Terrence “Hood” Ridley, 24, of Trenton, was arrested by the Mercer County (New Jersey) Narcotics Strike Force last Friday on a Bucks County warrant on charges of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a communication facility, and involuntary manslaughter. He was being held in Mercer County prison as of Monday while awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

According to court papers, Amanda Risko, 24, was found dead of an overdose on March 23 inside her home in the 100 block of Taylor Drive in the Fallsington section of Falls Township. An autopsy revealed she had a mix of combination of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, hydroxyzine, and cocaine in her system.

Through an investigation, Ridley was determined to have sold the heroin with fentanyl and crack cocaine that was purchased by an acquaintance who provided it to Risko and a male friend on March 21, police said.

Risko, who had recently returned from rehab, used the drugs that were labeled “Rolex” when her male friend went to work on March 22. He returned later to find her dead of an overdose. There were two packets labeled “Rolex” empty near her, police said.

The male friend of Risko laid next to her before attempting to kill himself with a drug overdose after finding his friend deceased. His suicide attempt failed and he awoke the next morning, slicing his wrists before calling 9-1-1, police said.

Emergency responders arrived and the man began speaking with police.

Investigators said the man told them he ate the bags that carried the drugs, something he did as a “habit” after ingesting drugs.

After conducting interviews, investigators from Falls Township and Bucks County District Attorney’s Drug Strike Force used a cooperating informant to purchase a bundle (10 to 14 packets) of heroin with fentanyl from Ridley near his home in Trenton on April 3, police said.

Risko, according to her obituary, was born in Bristol Township and graduated from Pennsbury High School. She spent time enjoying summers in Cape Cod and she was passionate about music.

In addition to the efforts of local police, investigators at the county-level have stepped up their drug investigations, adding the district attorney’s drug strike force last year.

“We’ve prioritized prosecution of drug delivery resulting in death cases here in Bucks County,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “The simple message here is: If you deal drugs, and someone in Bucks County dies as a result, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office will do everything it can to hold you criminally accountable.”

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.