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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of Public Information (609) 882-2000
Capt. Gerald Lewis - ext. 6516
SFC Stephen Jones - ext. 6513
Sgt. Julian Castellanos - ext. 6515
Det Brian Polite - ext. 6514

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 01, 2010


 
 
Troopers Arrest Brick Couple for
Murder and Burning Body

Woodland Twp., Burlington Co., N.J. – On Saturday, February 27th, New Jersey State Police detectives charged two people for the murder of a man whose body was found burned in Woodland Twp. Gregory Elk, 45, 514 Laurel Ave in Brick, and Susan Vasikonis, 41 of the same address were charged with Murder and Desecration of Human Remains and are in jail in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition.

At 4:09 a.m. on February 23, 2010, firefighters from Woodland Twp. responded to a reported brush fire on the side of CR 532 in Woodland Twp. Approximately 30 yards off the roadway, the firefighters located the badly burned body of a man and called troopers from Tuckerton Barracks. State Police detectives, CSI and Arson Bomb Units also arrived on scene to collect evidence and begin the investigation. The man was later identified as Eric Pagan, 37 of Ocean Grove, N.J. by fingerprints recovered from the body. Arson/Bomb Unit detectives determined that an accelerant had been used in the burning of the body, which then caught the surrounding brush on fire. This fire was seen by a passing motorist and called in to 911.

Examination by the Burlington County Medical Examiner determined that Pagan died of blunt force trauma to the head. The manner of death was classified as homicide.

Detectives tirelessly worked the case and developed Elk and Vasikonis as known associates and suspects in the murder. Detectives believe that the two had an argument with Pagan at their Brick Twp. home and, in the course of a fight, struck him with a blunt object such as a hammer. State Police Marine troopers and T.E.A.M.S. unit divers are conducting searches today for additional evidence, including the murder weapon, that may have been discarded by the accused.

The Burlington County, Monnouth County and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offices have been actively engaged in the investigation. Ocean County will prosecute the case since the murder The Burlington County, Monnouth County and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Offices have been actively engaged in the investigation. Ocean County will prosecute the case since the murder occurred in their jurisdiction. Bail has been set at $1,000,000 cash by Ocean County Superior Court Judge Daniels.

Jersey troopers located Elk and Vasikonis in the Star Inn in Green Castle, PA and asked the Pennsylvania State Police to arrest them on the strength of active warrants for drug related charges out of Monmouth County, N.J. PA troopers arrested them yesterday after surrounding their hotel room.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Defendents are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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