Missing Freehold Twp. Woman: Ex's Death Ruled Suicide: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — The ex-boyfriend of a missing Freehold Township woman died Friday morning by suicide, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office has confirmed.

John Ozbilgen, 29, a person of interst in the Oct. 30 disappearance of Stephanie Parze, died of suicide by hanging, the Middlesex County medical examiner ruled Friday, the prosecutor's office said.

Ozbilgen was found dead in his Freehold Township home Friday morning, and the prosecutor's office said the investigation remains active.

Parze has not been seen since 10 p.m. on Oct. 30, when she said good night to family members after a family outing. Her family says it has not given up hope of finding the 25-year-old Freehold Township woman, even after Ozbilgen's death was announced, NJ.com reported.

Ozbilgen had just been released from the Monmouth County jail on Tuesday to await trial on charges of child pornography, which were filed when he was arrested Nov. 9. He had not been charged in connection with Parze's disappearance, even as he was named a person of interest.

His death sent shockwaves through the community and through social media, where dozens of people following the case have joined Facebook groups to share potential information and ideas and discuss the case.

Some expressed anger at Ozbilgen, whom many have viewed as a prime suspect even as authorities have remained tightlipped about the case. Others have expressed frustration over the bail reform system that allowed him to be released from jail.

Prosecutors seeking to keep him in jail until trial told Superior Court Judge Paul Escandon that Ozbilgen had multiple images of violent child pornography on his phone, according to news reports from the proceedings by News 12 New Jersey and NJ.com.

The images were found when authorities seized his phone and other electronic devices while searching Ozbilgen's Freehold Township home as they investigated Parze's disappearance.

Prosecutors also told Escandon that Ozbilgen sent 10 angry text messages to Parze the night before she disappeared, NJ.com reported. Parze never answered the texts, which concluded with one calling her an expletive, the report said.

News 12 New Jersey reported prosecutors also told the judge Ozbilgen has three prior domestic violence cases filed against him. Two were filed in New York. The third was filed in September when Parze told police Ozbilgen hit her on the head, the report said. That case is still in the courts. News 12 also reported the child pornography involved 10 images that were described as violent.

Parze was last seen at 10 p.m. on Oct. 30 when she said good night and went home after an outing with family to see psychic medium Cindy Kaza’s show at the Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Brunswick, the New York Post reported.

Her phone and car and other belongings were found at her home the next morning when family members went to check on her after she did not show up for work. Authorities have been searching for her ever since.

There have been two searches for her in a wooded marsh in Staten Island, including one last week that involved more than 200 volunteers, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The New York Daily News reported Ozbilgen's cell phone was tracked to the park and there for about six hours the night of Parze's disappearance.

Ozbilgen was originally from Staten Island and worked for a Staten Island brokerage firm until recently; News 12 reported prosecutors said he had been fired.

A search organized by Parze's father, Edward, involving 200 people combed areas of Freehold Township, including Michael J. Tighe Park, on Wednesday and Thursday. Another search in the area is set for Saturday.

The Asbury Park Press reported that in addition to the text messages, authorities were investigating a number of Facebook posts allegedly made by Ozbilgen, who used the name John Oz on Facebook. Screenshots of posts allegedly made by him made references to beating women and other violence.

Parze remains missing.

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