Toms River Man Started Fire In Living Room: Prosecutor Toms River Man Started Fire In Living Room: Prosecutor
Toms River Man Started Fire In Living Room: Prosecutor A 59-year-old Toms River man is facing charges of aggravated arson after he intentionally started a structure fire on the evening of Monday, April 14, authorities said. At 11 p.m., police and firefighters in Toms River responded to Winteringham Village for a structure fire, which was extinguished prior to their arrival, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. An investigation determined the fire originated in the living room and was started after Kevin Funchess used an open flame on igniteable liquid, Billhimer said. Funchess was taken into custody at the scene without incident and…
Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana: Toms River Man Arrested Twice, Prosecutor Says Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana: Toms River Man Arrested Twice, Prosecutor Says
Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana: Toms River Man Arrested Twice, Prosecutor Says A 39-year-old Toms River man was recently arrested twice and charged with storing and distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, authorities said. On Thursday, March 20, detectives began surveilling Jonathan Acosta’s residence, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. After he was taken into custody following a traffic stop, a search warrant was executed on his residence, which saw the seizure of 21 grams of meth, approximately one-half pound of marijuana, a quantity of cocaine, and materials indicative of narcotics distribution, Billhimer said. Acosta was hit with numerou…
NJ Mom Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity After Drowning Toddlers: Report NJ Mom Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity After Drowning Toddlers: Report
NJ Mom Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity After Drowning Toddlers: Report A 27-year-old Lakewood mother who drowned her two toddlers was found not guilty by reason of insanity, a judge ruled Tuesday, April 1, according to Asbury Park Press. Naomi Elkins was ordered to be committed to a secure psychiatric hospital for two lifetimes, the outlet said citing a judge's ruling. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office did not respond to a request for comment. The mom told investigators she drowned her two daughters, 3 years old and 22 months old, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, for "religious" reasons, while her husband was away on business, according to arrest records obt…
Point Pleasant Man Choked Woman Into Unconsciousness: Prosecutor Point Pleasant Man Choked Woman Into Unconsciousness: Prosecutor
Point Pleasant Man Choked Woman Into Unconsciousness: Prosecutor A 31-year-old Point Pleasant man was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday, March 27 after he choked a woman until she passed out in 2022. Juan Santiago-Rojas is charged with attempted murder, strangulation and multiple weapons offenses, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. On Monday, Aug. 22, Point Pleasant Borough police responded to a residence on Butler Avenue and found an unconscious woman with serious injuries to her head and neck area, Billhimer said. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was treated and eventually released, Billhimer said. An investigati…
Juvenile With Fake Gun, Machete Causes Panic At Brick Playground: Prosecutor Juvenile With Fake Gun, Machete Causes Panic At Brick Playground: Prosecutor
Juvenile With Fake Gun, Machete Causes Panic At Brick Playground: Prosecutor A juvenile was arrested and hit with numerous charges after making threats with an imitation gun at a playground in Brick Township on Tuesday, March 25, authorities said. Brick Township police responded to Angela Hibbard Park after a juvenile approached a person and forcefully took their property, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. The juvenile then pushed a bystander who attempted to intervene and then made threats to shoot people while reaching inside a backpack while holding what was identified as a black object, Billhimer said. Several people began to flee and take cover, a…
Fentanyl, Meth Found In Driver's System Following Deadly Berkely Twp Crash: Prosecutor Fentanyl, Meth Found In Driver's System Following Deadly Berkely Twp Crash: Prosecutor
Fentanyl, Meth Found In Driver's System Following Deadly Berkely Twp Crash: Prosecutor Additional charges have been filed against a 37-year-old Beachwood man in connection with a deadly January crash in Berkeley Township after authorities confirmed fentanyl and methadone were in his system at the time of the wreck, they announced. Anthony Krempel was taken into custody at his home on Tuesday, March 25, and charged with vehicular homicide in connection with the Jan. 20 crash at Grand Central Parkway that killed Emanuela Fuchs, 34, of Beachwood, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Wednesday, March 26. Officers responding to the scene around 12 p.m. found…
Verizon Salesman, Old Bridge Resident Guilty Of Stabbing Man In Neck: Prosecutor Verizon Salesman, Old Bridge Resident Guilty Of Stabbing Man In Neck: Prosecutor
Verizon Salesman, Old Bridge Resident Guilty Of Stabbing Man In Neck: Prosecutor A 35-year-old Verizon door-to-door salesman was convicted on Wednesday, March 26, of stabbing a man in the neck in 2022 in Ocean County, authorities said. Michael Tsamas, a Laurence Harbor resident, was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the death of Joseph Delgardio, a Jackson Township resident, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Tsamas was also convicted of multiple weapons charges, Billhimer said. On Thursday May 26, 2022 at 6:15 p.m., Jackson Township police responded to West Veterans Highway and Conor Road and found Delgardio lying in a pool of blood in the roadway…
Toms River Man Guilty In High-Speed Crash That Killed Lakewood Driver: Prosecutor Toms River Man Guilty In High-Speed Crash That Killed Lakewood Driver: Prosecutor
Toms River Man Guilty In High-Speed Crash That Killed Lakewood Driver: Prosecutor A 24-year-old Toms River man was convicted  on Tuesday, March 18, of driving more than double the speed limit in a fatal 2022 crash in Lakewood, authorities said. Alejandro Huerta-Arias was found guilty of vehicular homicide in a crash that killed Mark Mandel, a 32-year-old Lakewood resident following a two-week trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at approximately 8:15 a.m., Lakewood Township police responded to Madison Avenue and Courtney Road, for the crash. Huerta-Arias was traveling northbound on Madison Avenue in a 2012 Infinity…
Berkeley Twp Parents Facing Long Road To Recovery After Being Shot By Neighbor: Campaign Berkeley Twp Parents Facing Long Road To Recovery After Being Shot By Neighbor: Campaign
Berkeley Twp Parents Facing Long Road To Recovery After Being Shot By Neighbor: Campaign A pair of Jersey Shore residents are facing a long road to recovery after they were shot by their neighbor in their home on Monday, March 10, according to a fundraiser set up to support them. Please keep those prayers going for Jill Gawarkiewicz Kwatkoski and Tom!!! This article sheds some light on what... Posted by Linda Klimkowski Flynn on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 At 4:45 p.m., Berkeley Township police responded to Drake Drive and found Tom and Jill Kwatkoski suffering from a gunshot wound, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Billhimer later identified the shooter as John Ad…
Major Fentanyl Bust: Dealer Jailed, Another On The Run In Ocean County, Prosecutor Says Major Fentanyl Bust: Dealer Jailed, Another On The Run In Ocean County, Prosecutor Says
Major Fentanyl Bust: Dealer Jailed, Another On The Run In Ocean County, Prosecutor Says A month-long narcotics investigation in Ocean County led to the arrests of three people accused of distributing cocaine and fentanyl-laced pills, authorities said. Detectives identified a Dock Avenue residence in Ocean Township (Waretown) as a stash house used by Joelene Leck, 31, of Waretown, to store and distribute illegal narcotics, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced. On Feb. 25, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean Township Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspector Service conducted surveillance on the residence an…
South Toms River Man Strangled Wife With Belt, Charged With Murder: Prosecutor South Toms River Man Strangled Wife With Belt, Charged With Murder: Prosecutor
South Toms River Man Strangled Wife With Belt, Charged With Murder: Prosecutor A South Toms River man has been charged with murder after authorities say he killed his wife by strangling her with a belt, officials announced. Gustavo Juarez-Perez, 38, was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection with the death of his wife, 30-year-old Cheyanne Juarez, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. At 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025, officers from the South Toms River Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an unconscious female at a home on Hummel Driv…
Juvenile Hit 118 MPH In Police Pursuit That Left Two People Dead In Toms River: Prosecutor Juvenile Hit 118 MPH In Police Pursuit That Left Two People Dead In Toms River: Prosecutor
Juvenile Hit 118 MPH In Police Pursuit That Left Two People Dead In Toms River: Prosecutor A juvenile driver has been charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated manslaughter, after a high-speed police chase ended in a deadly crash that killed two people and critically injured two others on Friday, March 7 in Toms River, officials said. The crash happened at 10:58 p.m., when a white BMW speeding at 118 mph collided with a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. The Toms River Township Police Department initially spotted the BMW speeding eastbound over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge around 10:45 p…