Find Your Daily Voice
50°
Ex-Con Sentenced For Home Invasion, Sexually Assaulting Woman In Asbury Park: Prosecutors
An Asbury Park ex-convict will spend more than three decades in prison after he was convicted of a home invasion and sexual assault, authorities said.
Shawn Connolly, 37, was sentenced on Tuesday, Apr. 23 to 40 years in prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced in a news release. He'll be eligible for parole after 34 years under the No Early Release Act.
Asbury Park police responded to a home on Seventh Avenue just before 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Officers immediately found Connolly, arrested him, and recovered what he stole from his pockets.
Investigat…
Central Jersey Man Who Killed Father, Hid His Body Sentenced: Prosecutors
A Monmouth County man will spend more than 20 years in prison after admitting to killing his father and hiding his body in their home almost two years ago, authorities said.
Kenneth Knapp Jr., 32, of Matawan, was sentenced on Thursday, Apr. 18 to 30 years in state prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release. He pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 23 to first-degree aggravated manslaughter and second-degree desecration of human remains.
Matawan police were called to the family's home on Matawan Avenue on Sunday, May 1, 2022, for a welfare check on 58…
Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct Girl In South Jersey Crime Spree To Remain In Jail
A Monmouth County man will remain in jail after he was accused of trying to kidnap a teen girl and groping a woman in a Target parking lot during a two-county crime spree, authorities said.
Quamel Benton, 35, of Farmingdale, was ordered by a judge on Wednesday, Apr. 10 to remain in Burlington County Jail through his trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged in Ocean County with attempted kidnapping, luring, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, two counts of eluding, resisting arrest, and obstruction.
L…
Asbury Park Teen Admits To Raping, Torturing, Killing His Pet Cat: Prosecutors
An Asbury Park teen admitted to raping, torturing, and killing his pet cat, authorities said.
Bani Mezquititla, 19, pleaded guilty to third-degree animal cruelty by tormenting, torturing, or unnecessarily or cruelly abusing a living animal resulting in its death, and third-degree animal cruelty by using or causing or procuring the use of an animal or creature in any kind of sexual manner. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the guilty plea in a news release on Wednesday, Apr. 10.
Asbury Park police began investigating after someone brought a d…
Woman Used Sister's Identity To Steal Opioids From Central Jersey Nursing Home: Prosecutors
Two sisters from Atlantic County were accused of stealing prescription drugs from a Shrewsbury nursing home, authorities said.
Deborah Baskerville, 38, of Galloway, and Shonte Hall, 36, of Egg Harbor City, were facing charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 26. Their arrests came after an investigation into a theft at Complete Care at Shrewsbury, a skilled nursing facility on Avenue at the Common.
Shrewsbury police investigated a theft at the nursing home on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Investigators said Baskerville used Hall's identity …
Man Tried To Abduct Teen Girl, Groped Woman In South Jersey Crime Spree: Prosecutors
A Monmouth County man was accused of trying to kidnap a teen girl and groping a woman in a Target parking lot as part of a two-county crime spree, authorities said.
Quamel Benton, 35, of Farmingdale, was arrested on Friday, Mar. 22, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged with attempted kidnapping, luring, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, two counts of eluding, resisting arrest, and obstruction.
Lakewood police responded to a report of an attempted kidnapping near Forest Park Circle at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Ma…
Coastal Flood Warning In Effect For Jersey Shore Due To Offshore Storm, Full Moon
Many parts of New Jersey are under a coastal flood warning with an offshore storm and a full moon expected to fuel high tides, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service issued the coastal flood warning in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties at 6 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 25. The NWS said the warning would be in effect until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 26.
A storm out in the Atlantic Ocean will increase offshore wind speeds and make waves larger, according to the NWS. That will combine with Monday night's full moon to create "widespread tidal flooding."
The w…
NJ Man Stalked Teen Girl, Leaving Flowers And 'Disturbing' Notes: Police
A Monmouth County man was accused of stalking a teen girl, leaving her flowers and "disturbing" notes, authorities said.
Thomas Watts, 70, of Long Branch, was arrested by West Long Branch police on Thursday, Mar. 14, the department said in a news release. He was charged with stalking and harassment.
Investigators looked into several incidents, with the first one reportedly happening at around 10 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 8. Investigators said Watts first left notes and flowers for the 17-year-old girl at the ShopRite on the corner of routes 36 and 71
Police said Watts watched her…
50 MPH Winds Knock Power To More Than 30K New Jersey Residents
Wind gusts nearing 50 miles per hour left thousands of New Jersey residents without power Monday, March 11.
According to the National Weather Service, winds are expected to die down in the evening with a wind advisory in effect until 11 p.m.
Skies will be mostly cloudy with a high near 50.
As of 4:15 p.m., the following areas did not have power:
JCP&L:
Hunterdon County: 4,264 without power mostly in Bethlehem, Glen Gardner, Hampton, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon, Readington
Middlesex County: 8,359 without power mostly in Monroe Township
Morris County: 10,049 mostly in…
