Ocean County Man Sentenced To 50 Years For Murdering Wife In 2022
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
FREEHOLD, NJ.- A 53-year-old Forked River, New Jersey man has been sentenced to State Prison for the October 30, 2022, strangling death of his wife and dumping her body in Ocean Township, New Jersey, following an argument the two had after they had attended a concert.
   According to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santago, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Jeremy B. Cruz, 53, appeared in Monmouth County Superior Court and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act, which would require Cruz to serve 85% of his custodial term before becoming eligible for parole.
On April 24, 2024, following a trial before Judge O’Malley, a jury sitting in Monmouth County, New Jersey, found Cruz guilty of first-degree murder for fatally strangling his wife, Dawn Cruz.
The conviction and sentence stem from an investigation that began on October 30, 2024, when shortly after 1:00 a.m., members of the Ocean Township Police Department responded to a report from a concerned motorist who had observed a woman, who had appeared to have sustained serious injuries in the area of Colonial Avenue near the intersection of Asbury Avenue in the Township.
Police Officers Discover Victim
Upon arrival, Police Officers found the woman, Dawn C. Cruz, 51, having succumbed to injuries to her neck. Ms. Cruz was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
Just around the same time, Ocean Township Police Officers found the body of Ms. Cruz; Jeremy Cruz surrendered to Police Officers at the Berkeley Township Police Department in Ocean County. An investigation by Monmouth County law enforcement officials and Ocean County law enforcement officials led to Mr. Cruz being taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.
