Freehold Man Pleads Guilty In Stabbing At Ocean County Apartment Complex

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Freehold man charged in a Thanksgiving stabbing at an Ocean County apartment complex has pled guilty, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

On Monday, Jaden Thompson, 19, of Freehold, pled guilty to attempted murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and eluding, in connection with events that occurred in Jackson Township on Nov. 27, 2025, and in Edison Township (Middlesex County) on Nov. 28, 2025.

Thompson's guilty plea follows an incident on Thanksgiving 2025 when Jackson Township police responded to the Paragon
Apartments on Larsen Road for a report of a person who had been stabbed.

Once they arrived at the home, officers found a woman with a stab wound to the abdomen, as well as a 19-month-old infant lying in the area where the stabbing occurred.

The infant was uninjured, and the woman was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was treated and ultimately released.

A subsequent investigation identified Thompson as the suspect, and revealed that he had fled the area in a black Hyundai Sonata.

Thompson was then charged in connection with the stabbing and his name was entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

On Nov. 28, 2025, the day following the incident, Edison Police identified the vehicle being used by Thompson.

As officers tried to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, Thompson "recklessly sped away" and ultimately crashed the car, authorities said.

He then tried to flee on foot but was taken into custody in the near vicinity.

On Nov. 29, 2025, Thompson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been detained since that date.

According to Patch's previous reporting, Thompson was also sought by police for attacking a woman who was pushing her child in a stroller in Howell earlier that month.

Once he was identified as the suspect in the stroller attack, he was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault (a disorderly persons offense).

At the time of his sentencing on Oct. 23, 2026, in connection with the Thanksgiving stabbing, the state will seek a term of 10 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the attempted murder charge, which will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA).

Additionally, the state will seek a term of five years NJSP as to the endangering charge and five years NJSP as to the eluding charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Previous Coverage

• Man Charged In Thanksgiving Stabbing At Ocean County Apartment Complex
• Man Attacked Woman Pushing Child In Stroller In Howell, Police Say
• NJ Teen Charged In Thanksgiving Stabbing Choked, Assaulted Woman Pushing Child In Stroller, Police Say