By: Richard L. Smith
A Middletown man has been arrested and charged with second-degree Reckless Manslaughter in connection with the death of his father, according to a statement released by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Mr. Kyle Kiernan, 36, was initially taken into custody on June 1 for Simple Assault after members of the Middletown Police Department responded to a domestic violence report at a residence on the 300 block of Pine Street.
His father, 62-year-old Lawrence Kiernan, declined medical attention at the time.
However, early the next morning, officers were called back to the home for a medical emergency, finding Lawrence Kiernan unresponsive.
He was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly before noon.
An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Middletown Police Department determined that the injuries sustained during the altercation with his son led to Lawrence Kiernan's death.
Following an autopsy on Tuesday, the death was ruled a homicide, and the charges against Kyle Kiernan were subsequently upgraded.
Kyle Kiernan is currently held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending future court proceedings.
Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin J. Sidley of the Major Crimes Bureau has been assigned to the case.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact MCPO Detective Matthew Delgado at 800-533-7443 or Middletown Police Detective Daniel Sullivan at 732-615-2100.