OCEAN COUNTY — A grand jury in Ocean County has indicted a South Toms River man on murder and weapons charges in connection with the death of his wife earlier this year, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.
Gustavo Juarez-Perez, 38, was indicted July 23 on charges of murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon in the
March 8 killing of his wife
, Cheyanne Juarez, 30.
Police responded to a 911 call around 9:15 p.m. that evening reporting an unconscious woman at a residence on Hummel Drive. Officers found Cheyanne Juarez unresponsive on the floor with blood on her face and a belt around her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency lifesaving efforts.
A joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, South Toms River Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined Juarez-Perez was responsible for the homicide. He was arrested at the scene without incident and has remained in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
Prosecutor Billhimer credited Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke for presenting the case to the grand jury and commended the law enforcement agencies and Medical Examiner’s Office for their coordinated efforts during the investigation.
