Two From Middletown, Keyport Man Arrested In Robbery, Assault At Motel

Three people have been arrested and charged in connection with the assault and robbery of a Lacey Township man at a Toms River motel two weeks ago.

Kevin Gesualdo, 24, of Sunset Place, Port Monmouth section of Middletown Township; William Karecki, 22, of Ocean Boulevard, Keyport, and Nicole Cantatore, 18, of Brainard Avenue, Port Monmouth, all are being held in the Ocean County Jail on charges related to the July 20 incident, Toms RIver police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Toms RIver police officers responded to the Howard Johnson on Hooper Avenue at 9:15 p.m. for a report of a man who had been beaten and robbed in his room there.

Stocco said the victim -- a 22-year-old Lacey man -- told police that while he was in his room with his girlfriend, a 21-year-old woman from Port Monmouth section of Middletown, there was a knock on the door. At the door was his ex-girlfriend, now identified as Cantatore, Stocco said.

A moment later two men -- now identified as Gesualdo and Karecki -- entered the room and began assaulting the Lacey man, Stocco said. They then took $200 cash belonging to the man and fled the area.

The man, who suffered extensive injuries, was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment, Stocco said.

The investigation led to the three because Cantatore is the victim’s ex-girlfriend, he said, and indications are she and the two men knew the victim was at the hotel on the date and time of the crime. Investigators believe he was specifically targeted as opposed to this being a random act, Stocco said.

Detective Louis Santora arrested and charged the three on July 23. Karecki and Cantatore were charged with robbery and criminal restraint, while Gesualso is charged with robbery, Stocco said.

Gesualdo’s bail was set at $50,000, while bail for both Karecki and Cantatore was set at $125,000 apiece, he said.

(Photos via Ocean County Corrections Department)