Murder Charge For Mom Who Drove Into Cape May Ocean: Officials

CAPE MAY, NJ — The Pennsylvania mother who drove her SUV into the ocean in Cape May has been charged with first-degree murder in the strangulation death of her 11-year-old son, officials said.

Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead of Horsham, PA, was taken into custody on April 11 after being found by Wildwood Crest police, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Horsham Police Chief Scott Fida said.

She is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime, officials said.

Matthew Whitehead was found dead around 7 a.m. on April 11 when his father noticed the door to the master bedroom was locked and his wife and the family's black Toyota Highlander were missing, officials said.

Horsham police responded and found Whitehead "obviously deceased" in the master bedroom's bed, where he had fallen asleep with his mother, officials said.

The boy had ligature marks on his neck, as well as a swollen face and petechiae to his eyes, which are all signs of strangulation, according to officials.

Police found that DiRienzo-Whitehead had killed her son after he went to sleep around 9:30 p.m., then drove the SUV to Cape May and into the ocean just off Beach Avenue, officials said.

After the SUV was no longer operable, she walked to Wildwood Crest, where she was found by local police and questioned by the Montgomery County detectives and Horsham police, officials said.

A black men's dress belt was found on the driver's side of the SUV, police said.

An autopsy of the boy concluded that the cause of death was ligature strangulation and the manner of death was homicide, officials said.

“I want to thank Cape May Police, Wildwood Crest Police and Cape May Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland’s Office for their assistance with apprehending this mother who killed her son and with other aspects of this investigation,” said DA Steele. “Their quick action and help in this investigation will play an integral part of holding the defendant accountable for the terrible killing of this boy.”

DiRienzo-Whitehead is being held in Cape May County as she awaits arrest and will be extradited back to Montgomery County for arraignment on the charges.