UPPER TWP., N.J. (DDN) – A woman from South Jersey is accused of killing her sister and faking an overdose.
Sarah Erickson, 36, of Millville, was arrested last week in connection with her sister Emily Cruddas’ 2023 death. Errickson’s suspected co-conspirator, Joseph Ragan, 22, of Philadelphia, is still being sought.
According to court documents, both persons are charged with murder.
New Jersey State Police troopers responded to a home on East Sunrise Road in Upper Township, Cape May County, for a reported overdose. Cruddas was discovered to be without a pulse and declared dead. Ragan allegedly demanded a statement regarding her death around a month after police responded.
According to the criminal complaint, Errickson and Ragan plotted to kill Cruddas after she spent several days in the hospital.
When the victim was discharged on February 16, 2023, authorities allege Ragan disclosed that Errickson had given Cruddas two pills containing several crushed Xanax. Errickson was then seen putting 10 to 15 packets of heroin in a hypodermic syringe, which he later gave to Cruddas while she was unconscious, according to the criminal complaint.
Ragan reportedly told troopers that he placed his palm over the victim’s mouth while Errickson injected heroin.
Cruddas’ cause of death was initially reported as the toxic effects of fentanyl but was later changed to uncertain on May 5, 2023, after additional information became available.
As the inquiry progressed, court documents claim that on April 19, 2024, an unknown individual came forward to turn up a rucksack containing 15 wax folds of probable heroin stamped “White House.” Authorities believe it is the same heroin linked to three wax folds discovered on Cruddas’ nightstand.
Months later, on January 23, 2025, authorities say detectives met with the anonymous guy and his attorney to confirm Ragan’s statements about how Cruddas died.
Authorities said the man revealed details about the defendant’s alleged behavior while he was at home. According to the criminal complaint, the guy claimed Errickson made a statement about Cruddas being the cause of her losing her children and attempting to take her home.
Authorities claim Errickson previously discussed killing her sister and others by injecting them with a deadly quantity of a controlled dangerous chemical.
Errickson was arrested on January 23, 2024. She’s being held in the Cape May County Jail.
Reference: South Jersey woman accused of killing sister, making it look like drug overdose: Police
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