Bayville Man Apparently Committed Suicide In Municipal Court Bathroom

by Patricia A. Miller

A 69-year-old Bayville man found dead of a gunshot wound in the men's room of the Berkeley Township Municipal Court apparently committed suicide, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

"Everything we found points to a suicide," said Al Della Fave, spokesman for Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. "There was no one else in any danger at any time."

Authorities cannot officially rule the death a suicide until after an autopsy, he said.

The man was the same person reported by his wife as missing earlier in the day. When police found his car in the Town Hall parking lot Tuesday night, they immediately began to search the township buildings on Pinewald-Keswick Road.

"They didn't know he had a gun," Della Fave said. "They just thought they were looking for an elderly male."

Authorities are withholding releasing his name at his wife's request, until all his relatives have been notified, Della Fave said.

Municipal Court was open for business today, with no delays, court employees said.

The restrooms are located in the lobby of the building. The lobby doors are locked at the end of the workday, unless court is in session. There was no court session on Tuesday.

"It's a public place," Della Fave said. "The good news is that thank God no on else was present and no one from the public was subjected to finding him."