Manchester man admits trying to kill mother, faces prison

🚨 An Ocean County man has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after brutally beating his 71-year-old mother with a cane in Manchester.

🏥 The victim suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull and ribs, and was hospitalized in critical condition.

⚖️ Prosecutors are seeking 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March

MANCHESTER — An Ocean County man charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault last year has pleaded guilty to viciously beating his 71-year-old mother with a cane.

Manchester assault sends elderly woman to hospital in critical condition

On Friday, Jan. 30, Joseph Cavallaro, 45, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in connection with the assault that occurred last summer.

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On June 27, 2025, at 12:15 p.m., township police went to the Pine Acres Manor Mobile Home Community for a report of a woman in distress.

They found the victim, who was later identified as Cavallaro’s mother, with significant face and body injuries. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune in critical condition, from which she recovered enough to be released later.

Prosecutors detail violent attack involving cane

Cavallaro and his mother had gotten into an argument that escalated into a violent, physical assault, officials said. They did not say what the mother and son were fighting about.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Cavallaro beat his mother with a cane, causing her to lose consciousness and suffer a concussion, fractured ribs, a fractured skull, and facial fractures.

A Manchester man has been arrested and charged with beating his mother with her cane (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office/Canva)

Suspect admits intent to kill during guilty plea

Cavallaro was arrested after the attack and has been held in the Ocean County Jail for the past seven months.

During his guilty plea, Cavallaro admitted that he meant to kill his mother during the assault.

Ocean County prosecutors seek decade-long prison sentence

Cavallaro is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2026. Prosecutors will ask for 10 years in prison.

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All 31 convicted killers pardoned by Gov. Murphy

Since December 2024, Gov. Phil Murphy has granted clemency to 283 individuals convicted of various crimes. Of those, 31 have been pardoned and released early from state prison after they were convicted of murder and aggravated manslaughter. After their release, each killer is subject to five years of parole supervision.

Gallery Credit: Rick Rickman