Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced 2018 homicide and overdose statistics for Plymouth County on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019.
According to a press release, State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County DA’s Office investigated 10 homicides last year.
In 2017, State Police responded to nine homicides. Both years do not include motor vehicle homicides.
“I commend State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office who work together with local police and federal authorities to solve these murders, investigate violent crimes and take guns and drugs off of our streets,” DA Cruz said. “We remain focused on eradicating gun violence and the deadly heroin and fentanyl drug markets to improve the quality of life for residents throughout Plymouth County,” Cruz said in the release.
State Police additionally responded to 112 fatal suspected overdoses in the county in 2018, with 81 of the victims being male, and 31 being female. In 2017, State Police responded to a total of 138 suspected overdoses in the county.
“The number of fatal overdoses that State Police responded to are down from last year and we are making strides, but we have work ahead of us,” DA Cruz said. “… I look forward to continuing to collaborate until we get well out in front of this addiction issue.”
Finally, last year, State Police Detectives assigned to the DA’s office were able to use “cellphone technology” to secure a manslaughter conviction against a Wareham man, Steven D. Foss, 37, who supplied the drugs in the fatal overdose of a 25-year-old Wareham woman, a first in the county, according to the office.