An Ocean County man has been sentenced to 50 years in state prison for fatally strangling his wife and leaving her body on the side of the road in Ocean Township following an argument, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.
Jeremy B. Cruz, 53, of Forked River was sentenced on a charge of first-degree murder Sept. 10 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley. Cruz must serve a minimum of 85 percent of that sentence before the possibility of parole, in accordance with New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA).
Cruz was found guilty following a trial before Judge O’Malley Wed.,, April 24.
Just after 1 a.m. Sun., Oct. 30, 2022, a woman who appeared to have sustained severe injuries was observed by a concerned motorist on Colonial Avenue, near the intersection with Asbury Avenue.
Upon responding, Ocean Township Police Department officers located the victim, identified as 51-year-old Dawn C. Cruz, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
At approximately the same time, Jeremy Cruz turned himself in to authorities at Berkeley Township Police Department headquarters in Ocean County. 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 Murder charge.
Cruz was indicted in January 2023. At trial, the state disproved the defendant’s intoxication defense, leading to the conviction.
This case was handled by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Caitlin J. Sidley and Carey J. Huff. Cruz was represented by Adam Mitchell and Deven Ferrara,
