Ocean Twp. Woman Accused Of Hitting Man With Car, Leaving Him To Die

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Update on this story: Landlord Fatally Hit Tenant With Car In West Long Branch; Didn't Call 911: Police

On April 28, a West Long Branch man was hit and killed by a car, and his body was found on the front lawn of his own home.

This week, the Monmouth County Prosecutor announced his office arrested and charged an Ocean Township woman with the crime:

Rena Cain, 53, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree hindering.

At about 10:00 p.m. April 28, members of the West Long Branch Police Department responded to 123 Wall Street for a 911 call of an injured person.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a man unresponsive on the front lawn. Adriano Catano, 46, was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. He lived at that address.

Police say Cain hit Catano with her car in the vicinity of the home, but did not stop to render aid.

She fled the scene, leaving him to die, said the prosecutor. The man and the woman knew each other, said the prosecutor. She was his landlady, and he was living in her property while he did work on it. She owed him $100,000 - $200,000 for work he did on the home, say police. Landlord Fatally Hit Tenant With Car In West Long Branch; Didn't Call 911: Police

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the man and woman did not know each other. That is not accurate. They knew each other.