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Forked River, NJ

Man Who Strangled Wife, Dumped Body On Side Of Jersey Shore Road Sentenced: Prosecutors Man Who Strangled Wife, Dumped Body On Side Of Jersey Shore Road Sentenced: Prosecutors
Man Who Strangled Wife, Dumped Body On Side Of Jersey Shore Road Sentenced: Prosecutors A Forked River man will spend more than four decades in prison after he was convicted of strangling his wife to death and leaving her body on the side of a Monmouth County road, authorities said. Jeremy Cruz, 53, was sentenced to 50 years in state prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Friday, Sept. 13. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday, Apr. 24. Investigators said a driver saw 51-year-old Dawn Cruz with severe injuries on Colonial Avenue near the intersection with Asbury Avenue in Ocean Township …
Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital
Veteran Severely Injured In Costa Rica, South Jersey Mom Fighting To Get Him To U.S. Hospital A Forked River woman is fighting for her veteran son to return to the U.S. after he was severely injured in Costa Rica, according to a fundraising campaign. On a GoFundMe page, Debra Vargas said that her son Codey Vargas suffered several injuries in an accident, including severe head trauma, a collapsed lung, several fractured ribs, paralyzed intestines, pneumonia, facial fractures, and several scrapes. Codey's accident happened on Wednesday, Mar. 20, but Debra wasn't aware of it until the U.S. embassy in Costa Rica told her on Tuesday, Apr. 2. The GoFundMe page for Codey raised more than $…
'Devastating Turn' For South Jersey Girl, 7, After Flu Complications: Campaign 'Devastating Turn' For South Jersey Girl, 7, After Flu Complications: Campaign
'Devastating Turn' For South Jersey Girl, 7, After Flu Complications: Campaign A Lacey Township girl was fighting for her life after complications from the flu, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page for seven-year-old Alena Robles said the Forked River girl was in a coma at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Her family wrote that she began feeling sick on Sunday, Mar. 10, and woke up with a headache the next day before having several seizures. Robles was rushed to the hospital's intensive care unit and doctors said her flu infection has caused severe encephalitis. "The medical team is working tirelessly to combat the sw…
'Fly High Chels': South Jersey Cheerleader Dies Unexpectedly, 14: Campaign 'Fly High Chels': South Jersey Cheerleader Dies Unexpectedly, 14: Campaign
'Fly High Chels': South Jersey Cheerleader Dies Unexpectedly, 14: Campaign A Lacey Township teen known for her love of cheerleading has died, according to a donation campaign. A GoFundMe page said Chelsea Diehl of Forked River unexpectedly died on Sunday, Mar. 3. A cause of death was not mentioned for the 14-year-old girl. Diehl's GoFundMe page had raised more than $24,000 from at least 496 donations as of Tuesday, Mar. 3. Becky Hutler-Melanson, who organized the memorial fundraiser, said Diehl's death was devastating. "She was a wonderful daughter, friend, and athlete who touched the lives of all those around her," Hutler-Melanson wrote. "Her smile lit up the r…
Twins Born In Different Years Among NJ's First Babies Of 2024 Twins Born In Different Years Among NJ's First Babies Of 2024
Twins Born In Different Years Among NJ's First Babies Of 2024 Twin brothers were among some of the last babies born in 2023 and the first of 2024 in New Jersey. Ezra was born at 11:48 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, while his little brother Ezekial was born at 12:28 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, at Virtua Voorhees Hospital in Camden. Ezra weighed 6 pounds and measured 18¾ inches long, while Ezekial weighed 4 pounds and measured 17¼ inches long. To make their birthdays even more special, Ezra shares his birthday with his dad, Billy, who is a New Year’s Eve baby, too. Parents Eve and Billy are thrilled that their boys are healthy and will ha…
Sudden Death Of NJ High Schooler Prompts Outpouring Of Support Sudden Death Of NJ High Schooler Prompts Outpouring Of Support
Sudden Death Of NJ High Schooler Prompts Outpouring Of Support The community is mourning the loss of a 17-year-old boy whose "life was just beginning" when he was killed in a car accident. Jayson Lee Cugliari of Forked River had just been accepted to the college of his choice, Stockton University. He was working and getting ready for Christmas, according to a GoFundMe page. The senior at Lacey Township High School was killed in a car accident on Dec. 9.  Jayson worked at the Goddard School in Forked River where he was adored by students and staff. "He loved being around children," his obituary said. "Working with children was his passion." He wa…
EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore
EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore A volunteer member of the Bayville First Aid Squad was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle turning from Route 9 into a shopping center parking lot in Forked River, authorities said. Michael McCabe, 49, was riding north on Route 9 and the southbound vehicle driven by 55-year-old Anne Danza of Forked River was turning left into Sunset Plaza at 5:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, Lacey police said. McCabe, a life member of the Bayville First Aid Squad, died of the injuries he suffered in the crash, police said. Lacey Township EMS and RWJ Paramedics responded to the scene.  “Mike w…
Three Pedestrians Killed By Car In South Jersey Three Pedestrians Killed By Car In South Jersey
Three Pedestrians Killed By Car In South Jersey Three pedestrians were struck and killed by a car in Burlington County Saturday, Sept. 24, authorities said. A Nissan Maxima heading north on Chatworth Barnegat Road (CR-532) struck the rear of a Ford Mustang, also heading north around 11:25 p.m. in Woodland Township, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. The Nissan then hit three pedestrians identified as Dion Cardell, 50, of Browns Mills, Michael Stull, 46, of Hamilton, and Brian Blaszka, 36, of Forked River. All were killed. The driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries and the driver of the Nissan did not report any in…
Professional Ring Finder Strikes Silver, Gold All Over NJ Professional Ring Finder Strikes Silver, Gold All Over NJ
Professional Ring Finder Strikes Silver, Gold All Over NJ He doesn't do it for fame or fortune, but Ed Trapper's hobby as a treasure hunter attracts a lot of attention. Last weekend, he was able to find a wedding ring on the beach in Lavallette. And a man's gold cross in a lagoon.  Asked whether he's had one special find, the 63-year-old Forked River resident said, "They're all rewarding." Trapper said it's all about doing a lot of detective work, and it's important if the person seeking their lost item knows approximately where they lost it. "You ask them over and over again," Trapper said, to narrow down the location. In the case of the weddi…
WINNERS: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $865K WINNERS: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $865K
Winners: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $865K Two lucky Jersey Cash 5 players will split $864,760, state Lottery officials said. The winning tickets were sold at a Wawa store and Walsh Farms in Middlesex and Ocean counties from the Wednesday, June 1 drawing. Each ticket is worth $432,380.  The winning numbers were: 08, 16, 25, 27, and 39 and the XTRA number was: 02.  The retailers will receive a bonus check for $2,000 for each winning ticket sold.  Those tickets were sold at the following locations: Middlesex County: Welsh Farms, 1 Schuyler Drive, Edison; and, Ocean County: WAWA #988, 800 Lacey Road, Forked River.
NJ Mom Faces Long Road To Recovery After Brain Tumor Removal NJ Mom Faces Long Road To Recovery After Brain Tumor Removal
NJ Mom Faces Long Road To Recovery After Brain Tumor Removal Stephanie Cole was getting ready to start as a student in an ultrasound program in 2018 when she began suffering from headaches and dizziness. Doctors found a small, non-cancerous tumor, Acoustic Neuroma, and gave her two options: Watch and wait, or go under the knife. Cole, now 36, of Forked River, decided to watch and wait. The mom of three powered through her symptoms up until graduation. But by the time Cole landed her dream job in April 2021, her tumor had tripled in size. Cole under went surgery to have it removed last month and is readjusting to a new normal. While a GoFundMe pag…
$1,000 REWARD: Who Dumped Crated Dog In NJ Woods Near Gun Club? $1,000 REWARD: Who Dumped Crated Dog In NJ Woods Near Gun Club?
$1,000 Reward: Who Dumped Crated Dog In NJ Woods Near Gun Club? A $1,000 reward is being offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for dumping a crated dog in a wooded New Jersey area. The Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park ACO Maria Cymanski responded to a  call for an abandoned dog near 1450 West Bay Ave., in Barnegat on Monday, Dec. 28. There, she found a young, female Siberian Husky mix left in a crate in a wooded area near a gun club, initially spotted by a man leaving the gun club who went over to investigate. The dog -- who had a pink collar and was …