Law enforcement officials are investigating the cause of a fire that engulfed an Ocean Township home Thurs., Sept. 12 and are seeking the public’s assistance in finding a missing resident from the home.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said at approximately 7:32 a.m., the Ocean Township Police and Fire Departments responded to a fire at 86 Wickapecko Dr. in the Wanamassa section of the township. Upon arrival, authorities found the approximately 6,000 square foot residence completely engulfed in flames.
Once the fire was extinguished, a joint investigation was launched by the Ocean Township Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office. Police quickly determined that two residents of the home were unaccounted for, a male and a female. The two missing individuals were identified as Ronald Teschner, 49, and Jacquelin Terrulli, 65.
Ronald Teschner was located in the early morning hours of Fri., Sept.13, in Paterson. He was found in possession of Terrulli’s 2019 Jeep Cherokee. Shotguns were also located in the vehicle with Teschner. The vehicle was seized by police and remains in the custody of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Ronald Teschner was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of certain persons not to possess weapons and three counts of receiving stolen property. Teschner was lodged in Monmouth County Correctional Institution and is pending a detention hearing. Jacquelin Terrulli has yet to be located. The investigation into her whereabouts is active and ongoing.
Anyone who may have seen Jacquelin Terrulli between Wed., Sept. 11 and the present time and/or may have information to assist in the investigation are urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Patrick Petruzziello at 800-533-7443 or Ocean Township Police Detective Christopher Brady at 732-531-1800. Anyone who had contact with Teschner after the time of the fire, but prior to his arrest is also urged to contact Detective Petruzziello and/or Detective Brady.
The fire remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office and Ocean Township Police Department.
