By: Richard L. Smith
A New York man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body in Manchester Township.
According to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Sandeep Kumar, 34, of South Ozone Park, New York, was charged on January 3, 2025, with Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in connection with the death of Kuldeep Kumar, 35, of India.
The investigation began on December 14, 2024, when the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit was alerted about a body found in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area.
Detectives from multiple agencies, including the New Jersey State Police and Manchester Township Police Department, responded to the scene and discovered the remains in an advanced state of decomposition.
A day later, the Ocean County Medical Examiner conducted a post-mortem examination, determining that Kuldeep Kumar had died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.
His death was ruled a homicide. With assistance from the FBI, the victim was identified as a 35-year-old man from India.
Initial findings revealed that Kuldeep Kumar had been reported missing by family members in Ozone Park, New York, on October 26, 2024.
Investigators linked his disappearance to four individuals from Greenwood, Indiana.
Sourav Kumar, 23, Gaurav Singh, 27, Nirmal Singh, 30, and Gurdeep Singh, 22, were implicated in the murder and charged on December 19 and 20, 2024.
The four suspects were apprehended in Indiana by detectives from multiple agencies, including the FBI and Greenwood Police Department.
They were taken to Johnson County Jail, where they await extradition to New Jersey.
Further investigation pointed to the involvement of Sandeep Kumar, who was arrested on January 3 at the New Jersey State Police Barracks in Holmdel.
He is currently being held at Ocean County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the investigation is ongoing, with cooperation from federal and state agencies.