Story by Paige
In the late evening of March 7, 2023, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a distressed female before the call was disconnected. During the callback to the female victim, she was able to give basic information before being disconnected once again. Jackson Township Police Department was able to use the information from the call to locate the victim’s address. However, it was revealed through investigation that the victim and her infant child were taken from her residence against their will. The father of the infant and significant other to the female victim, 24-year-old Gerson Aguilar-Lara, was found to have forcefully taken the two into a Chevrolet Equinox before fleeing the area.
A description of the vehicle and investigative methods were used by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Jackson Township Police Department to locate the whereabouts of the victims along with Aguilar-Lara. In the early hours of the following day, Toms river Police Department spotted the Chevrolet Equinox parked on Route 37. Aguilar-Lara attempted to flee the area on foot but was taken into custody of Toms River Township Police Department shortly after. The victims had not appeared to have suffered any physical harm.
The 24-year-old is currently awaiting a detention hearing in Ocean County Jail after being charged with two counts of Kidnapping, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Robbery. All charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
