State Will Not Reimburse Barnegat For Costs Associated With Search For Escaped Baby Killer

The New Jersey Department of Corrections will not reimburse Barnegat Township for any of the costs associated with the search for a convicted baby killer who escaped from a South Jersey prison in early May, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

Barnegat spent about $30,000 in the search - the majority of it for overtime for police officers. Other costs included food for the officers and vehicle maintenance.

Although Buckel escaped from a state prison, the New Jersey Department of Corrections said it will not pay the bill.

“The New Jersey Department of Corrections has had a long-standing mutual aid agreement with law enforcement entities across the state through which the department assists law enforcement entities (with manpower, canines, other resources) when assistance is needed, and the various entities reciprocate, whenever possible,” the department said in a statement. “This mutual aid agreement has not included financial reimbursement in instances when another law enforcement entity provides assistance to this department.”

Buckel, 38, went missing from the Bayside Prison Unit of Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow Township on May 3. He was three weeks away from parole eligibility for a three-sentence for aggravated assault, burglary and drug charges.

He had previously served a long prison sentence after he killed his girlfriend's baby daughter by slapping her to death in 1995.

He stole a truck after he escaped and was caught on video surveillance at a CVS story on West Bay Avenue in Barnegat.

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Photo credit: New Jersey State Department of Corrections.