Jersey Shore Driver In Deadly Head-On Crash Was High On Fentanyl, Prosecutor Says Jersey Shore Driver In Deadly Head-On Crash Was High On Fentanyl, Prosecutor Says
Jersey Shore Driver In Deadly Head-On Crash Was High On Fentanyl, Prosecutor Says A 30-year-old woman from the Jersey Shore had fentanyl and other drugs in her system at the time of the May 9 crash that killed a 78-year-old woman in Brick Township, authorities announced Monday. Ashley Watkins of Eatontown was heading south on Lanes Mill Road in a 2011 Toyota Camry when she crossed over the center line and struck a 2014 Dodge Caravan at Greenwood Loop head-on around 9:45 a.m., according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The Dodge driver, Terry Penrod, 78, of Brick, suffered a broken leg and taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center whil…
Lakewood Mother Admits Leaving Her Baby In Hot Car For 2 Hours, Ocean County Prosecutor Says Lakewood Mother Admits Leaving Her Baby In Hot Car For 2 Hours, Ocean County Prosecutor Says
Lakewood Mother Admits Leaving Her Baby In Hot Car For 2 Hours, Ocean County Prosecutor Says A 27-year-old mother from the Jersey Shore has admitted that she inadvertently left her 21-month-old child in a hot car, authorities said The child died about two-and-a-half hours later, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Chaya Shurkin of Lakewood pleaded guilty Friday to endangering the welfare of a child in May 2019, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Agreeing that Shurkin faces a lifetime of pain, the prosecution  recommends probation when the mother is sentenced on July 23, he said. "The loss of a child -- under these horrific circumstances…
Prosecutor: New Suspect Charged With Threatening Jersey Shore Detective Prosecutor: New Suspect Charged With Threatening Jersey Shore Detective
Prosecutor: New Suspect Charged With Threatening Jersey Shore Detective Charges against one Brick Township man were dropped and complaints against another brought for threats made earlier this week against a local police detective and his family, Ocean County's prosecutor announced Friday. Connor White, 22, was charged with making the threats along with Anthony Chieffo, 25, after another man was wrongly accused in the case, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The detective had received calls and texts threatening him and his family Monday on his department-issued cellphone, Billhimer said. Detectives from Billhimer’s office quickly identified C…
DWI Driver Gets 7 Years Behind Bars For Jersey Shore Crash That Killed 24-Year-Old Passenger DWI Driver Gets 7 Years Behind Bars For Jersey Shore Crash That Killed 24-Year-Old Passenger
DWI Driver Gets 7 Years Behind Bars For Jersey Shore Crash That Killed 24-Year-Old Passenger A 25-year-old Barnegat man will spend seven years behind bars for a  crash that killed his 24-year-old passenger in March 2020, in which speed and alcohol were both factors, authorities said Thursday. Jeydon Lowe pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and DWI on Jan. 17, and was sentenced before Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Lowe will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he is eligible for parole, subject to the No Early Release Act. Baxter also suspended Lowe’s driving privileges for …
Prosecutor: Garden State Parkway Wildfire 'Intentionally Set' Prosecutor: Garden State Parkway Wildfire 'Intentionally Set'
Prosecutor: Garden State Parkway Wildfire 'Intentionally Set' Authorities say that Sunday's wildland fire, which jumped over the Garden State Parkway in Lakewood, was intentionally set. “We have located the origin of the fire and have concluded that the fire was intentionally set,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said on Friday. No other new details were released by the prosecutor. Earlier news coverage and video of the fire by Daily Voice can be found by clicking here.  About 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Observation Tower in Lakewood reported a wildland fire in the area of Cedarbridge Aven…
Prosecutor: Fatal Jersey Shore Crash Is 'Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare' Prosecutor: Fatal Jersey Shore Crash Is 'Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare'
Prosecutor: Fatal Jersey Shore Crash Is 'Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare' The speeding driver in a head-on crash is now charged with manslaughter after a high school passenger in the other car died on Tuesday, authorities said. Michael Pillarella, 26, of the Manahawkin section of Stafford, has been newly charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and speeding, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Pillarella was driving north on Radio Road near Baltusrol Court in Little Egg Harbor at about 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 30 when he lost control of his car on a curve, crossed over the center line and struck a southbound vehicle, auth…
Prosecutor: NJ Woman Stabs Ex-Boyfriend To Death Prosecutor: NJ Woman Stabs Ex-Boyfriend To Death
Prosecutor: NJ Woman Stabs Ex-Boyfriend To Death A Toms River woman was arrested after stabbing her ex-boyfriend to death early Saturday, Oct. 24, authorities said. Samantha Massimino, 33, of Toms River, was charged with aggravated manslaughter and several weapons offenses in the death of Reinaldo Feliciano, Jr., 35, also of Toms River, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Police Chief Mitch Little said.  Massimino and Feliciano, who previously dated, had gotten into a physical altercation when Massimino stabbed Feliciano in the leg, according to an investigation by several law enforcement agencie…
Prosecutor: Charge Dismissed Against BLM Leader Accused Of Punching Man At Boardwalk Protest Prosecutor: Charge Dismissed Against BLM Leader Accused Of Punching Man At Boardwalk Protest
Prosecutor: Charge Dismissed Against BLM Leader Accused Of Punching Man At Boardwalk Protest A 28-year-old Black Lives Matter leader accused of simple assault during an August protest had the charges against him dismissed. Jamaal Holmes, of Toms River, was charged with simple assault after police said he punched Robert Lay, 68, in the face during the protest. Holmes said he was simply protecting himself and never punched anyone, according to earlier news accounts. On Friday, Ocean County Bradley D. Billhimer agreed, saying the charge had been dismissed after interviews with witnesses and a review of video from the boarwalk. Several additional independent witnesses came f…
Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner
Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner A 54-year-old man was being held in the Ocean County Jail in connection with Wednesday night's fatal assault at a popular Jersey Shore diner that left another dead. Robert Clarke, 78, of Manchester was airlifted to an area hospital after the 7:30 p.m. incident at the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Edward Charles Chandler of Manalapan was charged with aggravated assault, which was upgraded to aggravated manslaughter on Thursday night. Billhimer said that Clarke was removed from life support about 1:30 a.m. after he was airlifted to …
Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder
Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder A Jersey Shore man set a Lakewood home ablaze with three people inside, said authorities who charged him with attempted murder. U.S. Marshals captured Jamal Preston, 25, of Egg Harbor Township on Monday and turned him over to local authorities to be charged with four counts of aggravated arson in the Aug. 22 fire on Park Place, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Monday. The occupants got out safely after the 2:30 a.m. blaze spread to the second floor and attic, responders said at the time. Billhimer said his Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad investigated along with the Ocean Coun…
15 Ticketed At Lakewood Funeral For Violating NJ Coronavirus Order 15 Ticketed At Lakewood Funeral For Violating NJ Coronavirus Order
15 Ticketed At Lakewood Funeral For Violating NJ Coronavirus Order UPDATE: Lakewood police ticketed 15 people at a large funeral in violation of state coronavirus restrictions, as the number of illegal gatherings -- and charges -- continue unabated. They also arrested one of the funeral guests for giving a false name and Social Security number, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer said in a joint release. Samuel Manheim, 27, of Brooklyn, was charged with hindering and released pending a hearing, they said. Police found more than 60 people gathered for the funeral Wednesday night at th…
Prosecutor: Authorities Nab Accused Jersey Shore Child Predator Snared By YouTuber Prosecutor: Authorities Nab Accused Jersey Shore Child Predator Snared By YouTuber
Prosecutor: Authorities Nab Accused Jersey Shore Child Predator Snared By YouTuber Detectives arrested a 33-year-old Jersey Shore man on luring and attempted sexual assault charges after a YouTube creator lured him into a meeting by posing as a 14-year-old girl, authorities said. Phillip Stone, of Lacey Township, remained held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing following his arrest Monday. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said detectives from his High Tech Crime and Special Victims units took Stone into custody while investigating the authenticity of a video made by a private citizen who claimed to be doing a research study. The man – who id…