Body In Howell Road ID'd As Lakewood Man: Prosecutor

HOWELL, NJ — The death of a Lakewood man whose body was found lying on Hurley Pond Road in Howell early Friday morning has been ruled a homicide, authorities announced.

Domingo Merino Rafael, 33, of Lakewood, was found dead in the road by a person who called 911 at 3:46 a.m., Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.

Howell police found Rafael face down in the road, obviously dead, Gramiccioni said. MONOC responded and he was pronounced dead at 4:12 a.m. by doctors at Newark Beth Israel Hospital.

Authorities initially investigated it as a fatal hit-and-run by a motor vehicle, the prosecutor's office said, but investigators with the Monmouth County Serious Collision Accident Response Team determined it was not a hit and run.

An autopsy was conducted by Middlesex County Medical Examiner Dr. Allison Mautone, who ruled the death a homicide, Gramiccioni said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Kevin Condon of the prosecutor’s office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Sgt. Peter Kuppler of the Howell Township Police Department at 732-938-4575, ext. 2245.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

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