Arrest Made in Fatal S. Toms River Hit and Run

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office attribute good police work in identifying a suspect in the fatal hit and run of an elderly South Toms River man in December.

Prosecutor Joseph Coronato and South Toms River Police Chief Andrew Izatt announced the arrest of Joseph Marsh, age 27, of Toms River.  Marsh was taken into custody at his attorney's Jersey City office late Friday afternoon on January 17th.

Officials said an exhaustive canvas of area auto body and repair shops provided them with an eventual break in the case. Following the December 16th crash that claimed the life of 84-year-old William Gaughan, officials allege that Marsh went through a great deal of effort to conceal the incident by replacing the vehicle's damaged windshield, vacuuming debris and removing identifying articles, such as the license plates, registration and insurance documents from the vehicle.

Coronato said at the time of the accident, Marsh was allegedly talking on his cell phone while driving his 2012 Kia Optima on Dover Road when he struck the victim as he was attempting to cross the road.

Marsh is charged with Vehicular Homicide, Knowingly Leaving a Motor Vehicle Accident with Serious Bodily Injury, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Hindering Apprehension. He's lodged in the Ocean County Jail on $200,000 bail, with no ten percent option, set by the Honorable Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr.

The prosecutor's office said the arrest does not mark the end of this investigation. Detectives are now working to identify anyone who may have knowledge of the suspect's involvement and made no effort to come forward to the authorities. They're asking anyone who may have information regarding the case to contact South Toms River Police Detective William Kosh at 732-349-0313 or Ocean County Prosecutor's Detective Craig Ally at 732-814-4821.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit and the Vehicular Homicide Investigations Unity, the South Toms River Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit all contributed to the investigation.