50 Years For Lacey Man Who Killed Wife, Dumped Body On Road

LACEY, NJ — A Lacey man is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison after he strangled his wife to death and left her body on the side of a Monmouth County road, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Jeremy B. Cruz, 53, was sentenced to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison for the murder of his wife, 51-year-old Dawn C. Cruz. This sentence is subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning Cruz must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

He was found guilty after a trial on April 24, 2024.

Just after 1 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2022, a concerned motorist noticed a woman who appeared to have sustained severe injuries at the intersection of Asbury and Colonial avenues in Ocean Township, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

Ocean Township Police Department were able to locate the woman, Dawn Cruz, who was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, Santiago said.

At about the same time, Cruz turned himself in to authorities at the Berkeley Township Police Department, Santiago said.

He had killed her following an argument the couple had, Santiago said.

He was indicted in January of 2023 and attempted an intoxication defense, but that was disproved by the state during his trial, Santiago said.