Lacey Man Accused Of Killing Wife, Dumping Body On Road: Prosecutor

OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Forked River man is accused of killing his wife and leaving her body on the side of the road in Ocean Township (Monmouth County), the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

Jeremy B. Cruz, 51, of Forked River, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 51-year-old Dawn C. Cruz, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

At about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, a concerned motorist noticed a woman who appeared to have sustained severe injuries at the intersection of Asbury and Colonial avenues in Ocean Township, Santiago said.

Ocean Township Police Department were able to locate the woman, Dawn Cruz, who was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, Santiago said.

A short while later, Jeremy Cruz turned himself in to authorities at Berkeley Township Police Department, Santiago said.

A joint investigation by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean Township Police Department, Asbury Park Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Berkeley Township Police Department ultimately led to the arrest and charging of Cruz, Santiago said.

Cruz remains in custody pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court, Santiago said.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin J. Sidley of the Major Crimes Bureau. Information on Cruz’s legal representation was not immediately available.

Convictions on murder charges are commonly punishable by terms of up to life in state prison, Santiago said.

Anyone with information about this matter is being asked to contact MCPO Detective Aaron Shaw at 800-533-7443 or Ocean Township Police Department Detective Zachary Rhein at 732-531-1800.