Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 30, 2026, Joseph Cavallaro, 45, of Manchester, pled guilty to Attempted Murder before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., in connection with an incident that occurred in Manchester Township on June 27, 2025. At the time of his sentencing on March 26, 2026, the State will be seeking ten (10) years New Jersey State Prison subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA).
On June 27, 2025, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Community for a report of a female in distress in a mobile home. Upon making entry into the home, responding Officers discovered a 71-year-old female victim with apparent significant injuries to her face and body. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she underwent treatment for her injuries and was later discharged.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau revealed that the victim was Cavallaro’s mother, and that Cavallaro and the victim became involved in an argument which turned physical. Cavallaro assaulted his mother in her home – causing her to lose consciousness and suffer a concussion, fractured ribs, fractured skull, and facial fractures. Cavallaro was taken into custody on June 27, 2025 without incident and has been detained in the Ocean County Jail since that date. In entering his guilty plea, Cavallaro admitted to the Court that his purpose in assaulting the victim was to cause her death.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan who is handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Manchester Fire Prevention Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined efforts in connection with this investigation.