Samantha Massimino (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
A Toms River woman is facing an aggravated manslaughter charge after an early-morning argument between her and an ex-boyfriend turned deadly, authorities said.
Samantha Massimino, 33, of Toms River, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and weapons offenses in connection with the death of Reinaldo Feliciano, Jr., 35, also of Toms River, early Saturday morning.
According to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Toms River police officers were called to a local residence at 4 a.m. following a 911 call requesting assistance in reference to a male victim having been stabbed. The responding officers found Feliciano with a stab wound to his leg.
Investigators believe Massimino and Feliciano, who had previously been in a dating relationship, became involved in a physical altercation at the residence. During the course of the argument, Massimino retrieved a knife and ultimately stabbed Feliciano in the leg, prosecutors said in a statement. Feliciano was transported to Community Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 4:45 a.m.
Massimino was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
“I commend all the law enforcement officers involved in this tragic case for their dedicated professionalism, and for swiftly identifying Ms. Massimino as the individual responsible for Mr. Feliciano’s death and bringing her into custody,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit all participated in the investigation.
The location of the incident was not included in a press statement. Shorebeat has asked the prosecutor’s office to provide the name of the street where the stabbing occurred.
