Lacey Man Indicted On Murder Charges In Death Of Wife

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Forked River man accused of killing his wife and leaving her body on the side of a Monmouth County road has been indicted on murder charges, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.

A Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Jeremy B. Cruz, 51, on first degree murder charges in connection with the death of his wife, Dawn C. Cruz, 51, officials said.

At about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2022, 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 led to the arrest and charging of Jeremy Cruz, Santiago said.

Santiago previously said that convictions on murder charges are commonly punishable by terms of up to life in state prison.

This case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Caitlin J. Sidley of the Major Crimes Bureau and Carey Huff of the Office’s Trial Unit.

Jeremy Cruz is represented by Adam S. Mitchell, Esq. of Freehold.