BUNNELL, Fla. — On November 14, a grand jury indicted Justin Maddox, 32, of Palm Coast, on first-degree murder charges in connection with the overdose death of 40-year-old Jeremy Kocorowski. The indictment accuses Maddox of unlawfully distributing fentanyl to Kocorowski, which led to his death.
On March 28, 2024, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office received a call about an unresponsive man at an apartment complex on Bulldog Drive in Palm Coast. When deputies arrived, they found Kocorowski lying in the kitchen, unresponsive. Deputies and paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, deputies located suspected narcotics, which was later confirmed to be fentanyl. FCSO’s Major Case Unit and Special Investigations Unit quickly began investigating the case as an overdose death. Detectives identified Justin Maddox as a person of interest in the investigation after uncovering evidence that he gave Kocorowski the fatal dose of fentanyl.
Detectives located Maddox later that evening and determined he was involved in the trafficking of fentanyl and possessing cocaine and oxycodone. He was arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl – 4-14 grams, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Oxycodone. He was transported to the Perry Hall Sheriff Inmate Detention Facility, where he was held on a $157,000 bond.
Sheriff Staly had previously directed that all overdose deaths be investigated as a 1st Degree Homicide case to hold drug dealers accountable for their actions.
“These are very difficult and time-consuming cases, but our amazing team works hard to bring the poison peddler killer to justice,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “We will continue to investigate and hold poison peddlers accountable if they provide the deadly dose of illegal drugs and send them away to prison. If you are a poison peddler and sell a fatal dose in Flagler County, we are coming for you next.”