ARREST IN BARNEGAT LIGHT DEATH INVESTIGATION

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Long Beach Township Police Chief Michael Bradley announce the arrest of Conrad Sipa, 52, of 1 Homelands Drive, Colts Neck, New Jersey in connection with the death of Richard Doody, Jr. Mr. Doody’s body was found at his residence in Barnegat Light by Officers from the Long Beach Township Police Department on Monday, November 23 after a concerned family member was unable to make contact with him.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Ian Hood on November 24 determined that Mr. Doody suffered blunt force trauma to his head and slash wounds to his neck. Dr. Hood ruled that Mr. Doody was the victim of a homicide.

The investigation is being conducted by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Long Beach Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit. The victim’s residence was meticulously examined and processed by members of the Crime Scene Investigations Unit. Prosecutor Coronato commends the efforts of Detective Steve Capuano and Sergeants Shannon Dugan and Valerie Seiser, of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit, for their efforts in identifying, preserving, collecting and analyzing items of evidence in this case. The Colts Neck Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office provided assistance with the arrest at Sipa’s residence.

Sipa is charged with one count of Murder and one count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. His bail was set at 1 million dollars cash only by the Honorable James M. Blaney, J.S.C. He was taken into custody at his residence this afternoon. A murder conviction carries a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 30 years and a maximum term of life. Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose is a second degree crime which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in New Jersey state prison.

Anyone with any information concerning this case is asked to contact Detective Raymond Gardner of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929-2027 or Detective Ronald Hullings of the Long Beach Township Police Department at (609) 494-3322.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are only accusations. Each person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

CONRAD SIPA

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