Police Investigate Beating Death of Kean Student

Police are actively investigating the beating death of a 22-year-old Kean University student who was found in the backyard of a New Brunswick residence on Saturday.

Acting Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and New Brunswick Police Director Anthony A. Caputo announced Sunday that William R. McCaw, 22, of Gallatin, Tenn. was found outside the home on Hartwell Street "after he apparently had been fatally beaten." According to authorities, law enforcement officials received a call from an unidentified neighbor on Feb. 15 at 10:26 a.m. regarding the incident.

"Mr. McCaw was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:45 a.m. While the results of an autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office were not immediately available, a preliminary investigation determined that the victim suffered blunt force trauma," the press release from the prosecutor's office stated.

Authorities said the victim was a student at Kean University, which is located in Union, about 25 minutes away from Rutgers campus. He would occasionally return to New Brunswick to visit friends still attending Rutgers. The investigation, which is being led by Detective Ronoldy Martinez of the New Brunswick Police Department and Investigator Michael Daniewicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office also determined that the McCaw "had no known connection to the residents of the property where his body was discovered."

Police are continuing to investigating the student's death. No arrests have been made, but authorities are asking anyone with information to call Detective Martinez of the New Brunswick Police Department at 732-745-5217, ext. 6028, or Investigator Daniewicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4018.