Tag:

Toms River, NJ

Two More Plead Guilty For Role In Grisly Dismemberment: Ocean County Prosecutor Two More Plead Guilty For Role In Grisly Dismemberment: Ocean County Prosecutor
Two More Plead Guilty For Role In Grisly Dismemberment: Ocean County Prosecutor A 42-year-old Barnegat woman and a 36-year-old Manchester man are the latest to plead guilty for their part in the killing and dismemberment of 56-year-old Kerry Rollason, a Toms River resident last July, authorities said. Danielle Bolstad pled guilty to desecration of human remains while Jared Palumbo pled guilty to hindering apprehension on Monday, Jan. 13. Both are expected to be sentenced to probation per the terms of a plea agreement, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Investigators said Rollason was killed by 35-year-old Maxwell Johnston of Manchester Township at a h…
Missing Toms River Man Found Floating In Water At Park: Prosecutor Missing Toms River Man Found Floating In Water At Park: Prosecutor
Missing Toms River Man Found Floating In Water At Park: Prosecutor A 52-year-old Toms River man was found dead at Shelter Cove Park on the afternoon on Sunday, Jan. 12, authorities said. At 3:05 p.m., police responded to Shelter Cove Park on a report of a dead body in the water adjacent to the coastal marsh, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. The body of Deane Labranche was found floating in the water, Billhimer said. Labranche was removed from the water and transported to Community Medical Center pending a post-mortem examination, Billhimer said. According to his sister, Brooke Spurlock, Labranche's car was found abandoned at the p…
Trail Of Terror: Prison For NJ Man In Cross-County Crime Spree Trail Of Terror: Prison For NJ Man In Cross-County Crime Spree
Trail Of Terror: Prison For NJ Man In Cross-County Crime Spree A New Jersey man who left a trail of terror across county lines in a crime spree involving attempted kidnapping, sexual assault, and high-speed police chases has been sentenced to over a decade in state prison, officials announced. Quamel Benton, 36, of Farmingdale (Monmouth County) was sentenced on Jan. 10, to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for attempted kidnapping by Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.  The sentence requires Benton to serve at least 85% of his term under the No Early Release Act. He also received additional se…
Double Murder Gets Toms River Man 30 Years: Prosecutor Double Murder Gets Toms River Man 30 Years: Prosecutor
Double Murder Gets Toms River Man 30 Years: Prosecutor A 42-year-old Toms River man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Tuesday, Jan. 9 for his role in the murder of two people in 2021, authorities said. Tyshaun Drummond was convicted of two counts of murder following a month long trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Drummond was also sentenced to 10 years in prison, to run consecutively, for being convicted of burglary, Billhimer said. On Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7:20 a.m., Lakewood Township police responded to an apartment complex on River Avenue and found Nicholas Hardy and Sergio Chavez-Perez, who were killed after bein…
Mass Power Outage Delays Schools, Disrupts Traffic In Toms River Mass Power Outage Delays Schools, Disrupts Traffic In Toms River
Mass Power Outage Delays Schools, Disrupts Traffic In Toms River A mass power outage delayed school openings and disrupted traffic in Toms River Wednesday, Jan. 8. Police said the outage happened along the Route 37 corridor, leaving multiple traffic signals, homes, and businesses without power. JCP&L crews worked to service to the area, officials said. Toms River schools announced a 90-minute delayed opening for Tiers 2, 3, and 4 schools, citing the significant power disruption. Updates on restoration efforts and traffic conditions are expected throughout the day. 
Prosecutor IDs Man Killed In Ocean County Fire Prosecutor IDs Man Killed In Ocean County Fire
Prosecutor IDs Man Killed In Ocean County Fire A 75-year-old man has died after suffering serious burns in a house fire in Ocean County, authorities said. First responders from the Lacey Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the reported structure fire on Signal Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Upon arrival, they found the homeowner, identified as Edward Teixeira, outside the residence with severe burns. Teixeira was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 4, the prosecutor said. A j…
NJ Woman Identified As Victim Set On Fire In Deadly Brooklyn Subway Attack: NYPD NJ Woman Identified As Victim Set On Fire In Deadly Brooklyn Subway Attack: NYPD
NJ Woman Identified As Victim Set On Fire In Deadly Brooklyn Subway Attack: Nypd Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, was identified as the person who was set on fire and killed on a New York City subway, authorities said. The 57-year-old woman was named as the victim of the attack on Sunday, Dec. 22, a New York Police Department spokesperson told Daily Voice. Investigators said a man lit Kawam on fire while she was sleeping on a stopped F train at the Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn just before 7:30 a.m., NBC News reported. While her last known address was on Waterbury Court in Toms River, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Kawam also spent some time in the ci…
DUI Driver Wanted In Deadly Garden State Parkway Crash Arrested At JFK Airport, Prosecutors Say DUI Driver Wanted In Deadly Garden State Parkway Crash Arrested At JFK Airport, Prosecutors Say
DUI Driver Wanted In Deadly Garden State Parkway Crash Arrested At JFK Airport, Prosecutors Say A Long Island man accused of driving drunk in a deadly Garden State Parkway crash has been captured nearly 15 years after he jumped bail and became a fugitive, authorities said. U.S. Marshals arrested 52-year-old Chaudhry Yousaf at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday, Dec. 24, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 30. Yousaf's last known address was in Valley Stream, New York. Yousaf was originally charged in the crash that happened on the southbound side of the parkway on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Troopers responded to …
Big Lots Laying Off 385 NJ Employees As Stores Close: Here's Where Big Lots Laying Off 385 NJ Employees As Stores Close: Here's Where
Big Lots Laying Off 385 NJ Employees As Stores Close: Here's Where Big Lots, the popular discount retailer, is officially going out of business, which means hundreds of workers are about to lose their jobs. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, has announced plans to close all 963 of its remaining stores nationwide, including 18 locations in New Jersey. According to a WARN notice, 385 New Jersey employees will be out of work by Feb. 28, 2025. The layoffs will be in Somers Point, Edgewater Park, North Cape May, Toms River, Clifton, Brickton, South Plainfield, West Deptford, Sicklerville, Middletown, Dover, Barnegat, Cape May Court…
Elderly Driver Plows Into Three Ocean County Homes, Two Hospitalized: Police Elderly Driver Plows Into Three Ocean County Homes, Two Hospitalized: Police
Elderly Driver Plows Into Three Ocean County Homes, Two Hospitalized: Police An elderly driver crashed into three homes Saturday morning, Dec. 21 in Manchester Township, sending two people ot the hospital, police said. It happened in the Leisure Village West community, causing extensive damage just before 11 a.m., according to the Manchester Township Police Department. Upon arrival, officers found a 2017 Toyota Camry with severe front-end damage. The driver, identified as an 84-year-old woman from Manchester, was extricated from the vehicle by first responders. Police say she initially backed her car into a residence where an 88-year-old female occupant, was present…
These 18 NJ Big Lots Stores Are Among Nearly 1,000 Closing Nationwide: Here's When These 18 NJ Big Lots Stores Are Among Nearly 1,000 Closing Nationwide: Here's When
These 18 NJ Big Lots Stores Are Among Nearly 1,000 Closing Nationwide: Here's When Big Lots, the popular discount retailer, is officially going out of business.  The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, has announced plans to close all 963 of its remaining stores nationwide, including 18 locations in New Jersey. The last day of business is expected to be in mid-February, according to sources familiar with the closures. While official store closing sales have not yet begun, all Christmas items are currently 50% off, offering shoppers a chance to stock up before the doors shut for good. The closures mark the end of an era for the budget-friendl…
NJ Man Pleads Guilty To Toms River Man's Grisly Dismemberment, Prosecutors Say NJ Man Pleads Guilty To Toms River Man's Grisly Dismemberment, Prosecutors Say
NJ Man Pleads Guilty To Toms River Man's Grisly Dismemberment, Prosecutors Say A Brick Township man admitted to his role in the dismemberment of a Toms River man's body, authorities said. Jared Krysiak, 34, pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 16 to desecration of human remains, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Krysiak was among the four people indicted in the killing of 56-year-old Kerry Rollason. Elizabeth Mascarelli of Seaside Heights entered a guilty plea on Monday, Dec. 9 for an aggravated manslaughter charge. She was previously indicted on Thursday, Oct. 24 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hindering apprehen…
NJ Woman Confesses To Killing Toms River Man In Grisly Dismemberment Case: Prosecutors NJ Woman Confesses To Killing Toms River Man In Grisly Dismemberment Case: Prosecutors
NJ Woman Confesses To Killing Toms River Man In Grisly Dismemberment Case: Prosecutors A Seaside Heights woman has admitted to killing a Toms River man whose body was dismembered, authorities said. Elizabeth Mascarelli, 29, pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 9 to aggravated manslaughter, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. She was previously indicted on Thursday, Oct. 24 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hindering apprehension, desecration of human remains, and eight weapons charges. Mascarelli was among the four people charged in the killing of 56-year-old Kerry Rollason. Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared …
Driver, 28, Seriously Injured In Parkway Crash Thanksgiving Day In Toms River Driver, 28, Seriously Injured In Parkway Crash Thanksgiving Day In Toms River
Driver, 28, Seriously Injured In Parkway Crash Thanksgiving Day In Toms River A 28-year-old man suffered serious injuries in a Thanksgiving Day crash on the Garden State Parkway, authorities said. The man was heading north behind the wheel of a Lexus SUV when the vehicle ran off the road to the right and struck multiple trees at milepost 86.7 in Toms River around 6:50 p.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Charles Marchan said. The driver suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash. Police did not provide further details. 
Toms River Man Died In Police Custody: Bodycam Footage Shows His Arrest Toms River Man Died In Police Custody: Bodycam Footage Shows His Arrest
Toms River Man Died In Police Custody: Bodycam Footage Shows His Arrest Authorities have released body camera video of the incident when a Toms River man died while police tried to detain him. The state Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability made the footage public on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The video showed the Friday, Apr. 19 encounter that ended with the death of 47-year-old John Cassidy. The incident began at a gas station on Route 37 near West End Avenue at around 1 p.m. Island Heights police officers Peter Muscarella, Dominique D’Amico-Violante, and Lt. Paul Rutledge attempted to arrest Cassidy on active warrants. The f…
NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say
NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say A former teacher at an Ocean County performing arts academy admitted to molesting a female student, authorities said. Douglas Bollinger of Neptune City, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 18, to endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Investigators said Bollinger, 57, engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" with a student. The incidents happened in Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park between February and August 2019. Bollinger was a teacher at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy, part of Ocean County Vocational Tech…
Massive White Shark Hangs Out Off NJ Coast Days After Another Pinged Nearby Massive White Shark Hangs Out Off NJ Coast Days After Another Pinged Nearby
Massive White Shark Hangs Out Off NJ Coast Days After Another Pinged Nearby Two enormous sharks have been swimming off New Jersey's coast in recent days. Anne Bonney, a 9-foot-3-inch, 425-pound white shark tagged by the nonprofit OCEARCH, was detected off the coast of Brick and Toms River early Thursday, Nov. 14, at approximately 12:10 a.m. She resurfaced the following morning, pinging again around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. Another massive shark, Scot, was tracked in the Hudson Canyon on Nov. 6 and 7. At over 12 feet long and weighing approximately 1,600 pounds, Scot is one of the largest white sharks monitored by OCEARCH. The Hudson Canyon, located off New Je…
NJ Ranks Among Top States For Hospital Safety In Fall 2024, Leapfrog Report Finds NJ Ranks Among Top States For Hospital Safety In Fall 2024, Leapfrog Report Finds
NJ Ranks Among Top States For Hospital Safety In Fall 2024, Leapfrog Report Finds New Jersey hospitals are among the safest in the nation, according to the fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grade report from The Leapfrog Group.  The Garden State ranks in the top 10 states for the highest percentage of "A" hospitals, joining states like Utah, Virginia, and Connecticut. The grades, which are updated twice a year, assess nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country on their effectiveness at preventing medical errors, accidents, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 30 performance measures to assign grades ranging from "A" to "F," offering patients and fami…
Charges Upgraded For Driver 2X Legal Limit After Death Of Jersey Shore Restaurateur: Prosecutor Charges Upgraded For Driver 2X Legal Limit After Death Of Jersey Shore Restaurateur: Prosecutor
Charges Upgraded For Driver 2X Legal Limit After Death Of Jersey Shore Restaurateur: Prosecutor A Seaside Park woman's charges were upgraded when a restaurant owner and well-known fly fisherman died more than a month after a hit-and-run crash. Genell Mcinaw, 50, surrendered to Seaside Heights police on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael Nolan Jr. said in a news release. She was previously charged in the crash that killed Robert Popovics of Seaside Park. Seaside Heights police responded to a report of a man lying in the road near the intersection of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23. Officers found Popovics u…
Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim
Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim Four people from Ocean County were indicted for dismembering the body of a Toms River man killed in his home, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 29-year-old Elizabeth Mascarelli of Seaside Heights on Thursday, Oct. 24 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hindering apprehension, desecration of human remains, and eight weapons charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township; and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester, were also indicted for hindering apprehension and…
South Jersey Man Who Tried To Abduct Girl, Groped Woman Pleads Guilty: Prosecutors South Jersey Man Who Tried To Abduct Girl, Groped Woman Pleads Guilty: Prosecutors
South Jersey Man Who Tried To Abduct Girl, Groped Woman Pleads Guilty: Prosecutors A Farmingdale man admitted to 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, 36, pleaded guilty on Monday, Oct. 21 to attempted kidnapping, two counts of eluding, and criminal sexual contact, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Lakewood police responded to a report of an attempted kidnapping near Forest Park Circle at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 21. Officers learned that a man tried to force the girl into a "smaller model" white SUV. The …
Toms River Man Convicted For Shooting Two Men In Head, Killing Them: Prosecutors Toms River Man Convicted For Shooting Two Men In Head, Killing Them: Prosecutors
Toms River Man Convicted For Shooting Two Men In Head, Killing Them: Prosecutors A Toms River man was found guilty of killing two men in a Lakewood apartment nearly three years ago, authorities said. After a nearly month-long trial, a jury convicted 42-year-old Tyshaun Drummond on Tuesday, Oct. 22 of two murder counts, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged in the deaths of 36-year-old Nicholas Hardy of Toms River and 32-year-old Sergio Chavez-Perez of Lakewood. Lakewood police responded to shots fired at an apartment complex on River Avenue at around 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. Officers found Drummond matching…
CNAs Attack Patient At Jersey Shore Rehab Center: Prosecutor CNAs Attack Patient At Jersey Shore Rehab Center: Prosecutor
CNAs Attack Patient At Jersey Shore Rehab Center: Prosecutor A pair of certified nursing assistants are accused of beating a patient now listed in critical condition at the rehabilitation center they worked at, authorities in Ocean County said. Dhenmark Francisco, 28, of Toms River, and Jovi Esperanza, 31, of Beachwood, were each charged with aggravated assault in connection with the Sunday, Oct. 14 attack at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Facility in Berkeley Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The Berkeley PD was contacted by officials at the Crystal Lake Rehabilitation Facility regarding a patient that had been assa…
College Track Star, Special Toms River Police Officer Dies After Tonsil Surgery College Track Star, Special Toms River Police Officer Dies After Tonsil Surgery
College Track Star, Special Toms River Police Officer Dies After Tonsil Surgery A Toms River police officer who was part of the department since she was a girl died after tonsil surgery, according to a fundraising campaign. Ingrid Rivera-Zuniga, 21, died on Saturday, Oct. 5, her obituary from Horizon Funeral and Cremation Services said. She was a Class I special law enforcement officer with the Toms River Police Department. According to a GoFundMe page, Rivera-Zuniga had a difficult recovery from tonsil surgery. She was hospitalized with meningitis and suffered two strokes. The GoFundMe had raised more than $29,700 from at least 453 donations as of Wednesday, Oct. 9. …
'Worst Pain Known To Humanity' Once Plaguing NJ Woman Now Controlled With Cellphone 'Worst Pain Known To Humanity' Once Plaguing NJ Woman Now Controlled With Cellphone
'Worst Pain Known To Humanity' Once Plaguing NJ Woman Now Controlled With Cellphone A New Jersey resident who one day woke up and began experiencing the most excruciating pain of her life is now able to manage it through a cell phone, thanks to physicians at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Mary Rice, 42, of Toms River, began experiencing the extreme facial pain one day in January 2018. She described it as electric shocks over her left eye, and almost anything set it off. "Healthcare professionals talk about a 10-point scale of pain with their patients," she said. "My pain was mostly a 10+, off the scale, leaving me unable to do the most simple of tasks and prevent…
Arrest Made In Hit-Run Crash That Left Pedestrian, 25, Critical In Toms River: Police Arrest Made In Hit-Run Crash That Left Pedestrian, 25, Critical In Toms River: Police
Arrest Made In Hit-Run Crash That Left Pedestrian, 25, Critical In Toms River: Police A 60-year-old Toms River man has been charged in connection with a crash that left a 25-year-old man critical earlier this week. Stacy Jordan was heading north on Massachusetts Avenue when it struck the Toms River pedestrian around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, and fled the scene, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Police Department Officer in Charge Peter Sundack said. The pedestrian was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was listed in critical condition. Jordan was identified as a suspect and taken into custody on Friday, S…
OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Central Jersey, Feds Say OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Central Jersey, Feds Say
OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Central Jersey, Feds Say A Jersey Shore bank will pay more than $15 million in a settlement for racially discriminatory lending practices known as redlining, authorities said. OceanFirst Bank agreed to the settlement to resolve the accusations that date back to 2018, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. The Toms River-based bank was accused of redlining in predominantly non-white neighborhoods in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. The $15 million settlement came after the Department of Justice launched its Combating Redlining Initiative in October 2021, aiming to s…
Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors
Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors A Toms River woman will spend at least eight years in prison after admitting to her role in the death of her roommate, a former Manchester High School janitor, authorities said. Mary Carbone, 60, was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 13 to ten years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. She must serve eight-and-a-half years before she's eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act. Carbone pleaded guilty on Monday, July 8 to aggravated manslaughter. She had been indicted for murder in the death of 55-year-old Frank St…
Toms River School's Music Teacher Shared, Received Child Porn: Prosecutors Toms River School's Music Teacher Shared, Received Child Porn: Prosecutors
Toms River School's Music Teacher Shared, Received Child Porn: Prosecutors A Toms River music teacher was accused of sharing child pornography online, authorities said. Christopher DeCesare, 31, of Matawan, was charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse materials. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced his arrest in a news release on Friday, Sept. 13. Investigators said DeCesare was distributing child porn to other users through social media and received it on a personal email account. The investigation started in July after a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. DeCesare is …
'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit 'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit
'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit The family of a Toms River man has filed a lawsuit claiming he was killed by a supplement known by many as "gas station heroin." The suit, filed on Thursday, Sept. 5 by the family of 32-year-old Matthew Cornier, names Neptune Resources, LLC; Super Chill CBD Products; and Hometown Market. Philadelphia-based law firm Feldman Shepherd announced the legal action in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 12. Cornier died on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, after consuming Neptune's Fix Elixir purchased from a store in Point Pleasant, the suit claimed. The product is marketed as a dietary supplement…
'General Hospital' Star Moonlights As New Jersey Realtor  — And He Loves It 'General Hospital' Star Moonlights As New Jersey Realtor  — And He Loves It
'General Hospital' Star Moonlights As New Jersey Realtor — And He Loves It When he's not breaking hearts on soap operas, Rick Hearst is selling homes in New Jersey. The "General Hospital" star revealed his second career in an Instagram video on Monday, Sept. 9, where he showed off his big backyard and extolled the virtues of living in the Garden State. "I just kind of wanted to show folks what it looks like," Hearst said. “There’s different parts of New Jersey. The part that I live in, South Central New Jersey, is a beautiful place. I also happen to be a real estate agent here. I love helping people find homes here, sell their homes here. It’s really a great …