SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ – Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Anthony Collins, 40, of Seaside Heights, has been charged with Manslaughter and Endangering an Injured Victim. These charges are related to the death of 70-year-old Robert May, also of Seaside Heights, who died on October 1, 2023.
According to authorities, on September 18, Seaside Heights Police Department officers responded to a call concerning a fall victim near the intersection of Central Avenue and Sumner Avenue. They discovered Robert May lying next to his bicycle with a head laceration. Initially, May refused further medical assistance and returned home. However, a subsequent investigation revealed that May had been assaulted, causing him to fall off his bike and sustain the head injury.
The police received information later that day that May was acting erratically and was eventually taken from his home to the Community Medical Center in Toms River. His condition worsened, leading to a transfer to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. A post-mortem examination determined that May died due to blunt force injury resulting from the assault, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Seaside Heights Police Department identified Collins as the individual who assaulted May.
“A continuing investigation determined that Collins was, in fact, the individual who assaulted Mr. May on September 18th, ultimately resulting in his death,” said Prosecutor Billhimer.
Collins surrendered to authorities at the Seaside Heights Police Department on October 15 and was taken to Ocean County Jail, where he currently awaits a detention hearing.