A Seaside Heights man is being charged with Murder as he recovers from a drug overdose he suffered following the homicide on Saturday at the Offshore Motel in the borough.

Get our free mobile app

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced the murder charge Monday against Gerardo Ruiz, 50, of Seaside Heights following the death of Alecia Perreault, 29, of Seaside Heights, early in the morning on May 1.

Seaside Heights Police received a phone call Saturday morning around 7:30 am from someone who said they had "knowledge that Ruiz killed a female at the Offshore Motel in Seaside Heights."

The caller told police that Ruiz was staying at the Surfside Motel in Seaside Heights.

When police responded to a room at the Offshore Motel, they found Perreault with apparent wounds to her neck.

She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police then responded to Ruiz’s room at the Surfside Motel and discovered that he experienced an apparent drug overdose.

Ruiz is currently in the protective custody of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office at a medical facility and is listed in serious but stable condition.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and Seaside Heights Police Department Detective Bureau led them to identifying Ruiz as the individual responsible for Perreault’s death.

“The Ocean County Medical Examiner has preliminarily determined this to be a homicide but the cause and manner are currently pending further testing,” Prosecutor Billhimer said in a statement.

You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com.

When Ocean and Monmouth County Police saved the day

Have You Seen Them? Monmouth County's Most Wanted

12 Times Being High Cost NJ Residents & Towns

Have You Seen Them? Ocean County's Most Wanted

NEXT: 10 Jersey Shore School Districts Losing Millions From S2 School Funding Formula

Ten times drunk driving changed New Jersey Lives Forever

Strange NJ Laws You've Never Heard Of

Marijuana legal in NJ: How do the laws work?

Answers to common questions about legalized recreational marijuana in New Jersey and rules about underage use of weed.

NEXT: INSIDE JOE PESCI'S HILARIOUSLY OVER-THE-TOP LAVALLETTE MANSION

LOOK: GO INSIDE JON BON JOVI'S $20 MILLION MIDDLETOWN MANSION

Go Inside Mike 'The Situation's' NJ Mansion

TAKE A TOUR OF JON BON JOVI'S NEW $43 MILLION PALM BEACH MANSION

Jersey Shore Nor'easter 2021 Listener Pictures

LOOK INSIDE: The Most Expensive House in Rumson

This is the most expensive house for sale in Rumson, NJ in 2021

Peek Inside Snooki's New Toms River Waterfront Home

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

NEXT: The 100 Best Places to Live on the East Coast

More From Beach Radio