A 2006 Whippany Park High School graduate was found dead of an apparent heroin overdose in the basement apartment of a Tremont Drive home. Eric K. Roppenecker, 18, had lived in Hanover previously and had moved to the basement of 3 Tremont Drive about three months ago, police said. "The investigation to this point reveals a probable drug overdose," Detective Lt. Brian Monaghan said today. A female friend of Roppenecker -- who worked with him at a title agency in the area, which police did not name -- was worried when Roppenecker did not show up for work yesterday. She called police and told them where he lived. [continues 209 words]
EAST HANOVER --Things are going to be different in the two Hanover Park Regional high schools starting as early as September. Both Whippany Park in Hanover and Hanover Park in East Hanover will be getting full-time police "resource officers" stationed in the schools, Superintendent John W. Adamus said on Thursday. He spoke hours after the Morris County Prosecutor's Office began rounding up drug abuse suspects in "Operation Painkiller." The investigation resulted in the arrests of nearly 60 people, mostly in and around East Hanover, Florham Park and Hanover, with most ranging in age from 16 to 25, authorities said. [continues 830 words]
Family, Friends Recall Heroin Addict's Slide HANOVER -- The death certificate for Holly Gillis will say she died on July 1 at the age of 21. Her family and friends say she died about two years ago. The killer was heroin. "She wasn't herself anymore," said Joan Gillis, Holly's 50-year-old mom. "Her passing started several years ago." The Gillis home was filled with food and people last week. A large fruit and cheese platter sat in the middle of a coffee table. Crackers, muffins and blueberry cobbler were nearby. [continues 762 words]
