Man indicted on manslaughter and drug charges in overdose death of Fall River man

BROCKTON – A man has been indicted on charges that he allegedly supplied Fentanyl and Cocaine to a fellow patient at Bridgewater State Hospital who later overdosed and died, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced Saturday.

A Plymouth County Grand Jury late Friday returned indictments against 35 year-old Kevin Malette of Brockton, charging him with one count each of Manslaughter, Distribution of Class A (Fentanyl) Subsequent Offense, Distribution Class B (Cocaine) Subsequent Offense, Conspiracy to Violate Controlled Substance Act, Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A (Fentanyl) Subsequent Offense, Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B (Cocaine) Subsequent Offense, and Possessing/Delivering Drugs or Articles to Prisoners in a Correctional Institute or Jail.

On September 19, 2019, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office assisted the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) with the unattended death investigation of an apparent overdose which occurred at the Bridgewater State Hospital. At approximately 12:30 a.m., while conducting a routine check of those housed in the unit staff.

On September 19, 2019, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office assisted the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) with the unattended death investigation of an apparent overdose which occurred at the Bridgewater State Hospital. At approximately 12:30 a.m., while conducting a routine check of those housed in the unit, staff observed that the victim was not breathing and unresponsive. Staff made entry into the locked cell and performed life-saving measures until paramedics from the Bridgewater Fire Department arrived on scene and assumed control. The victim was ultimately transported to Morton Hospital in Taunton, where he was pronounced dead. He was identified as 51-year-old Jeffrey Link of Fall River.

The investigation found that Link allegedly exchanged four bags of canteen items, including food and coffee, with a monetary value of more than $100, in return for narcotics. The canteen, which is used as a form of currency in correctional institutions, ended up in the possession of Malette, who resided in another building at Bridgewater State Hospital.

As a result of this investigation, the Grand Jury on Friday returned indictments charging that on or between September 18th and 19th of 2019, Mallete supplied Link with the narcotics and he subsequently fatally overdosed.

Malette is currently housed at the Bristol County House of Corrections. He will be arraigned on the charges at a later date.

The case was investigated by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. It is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Russell Eonas and Kevin O’Leary of the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.