Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the seven (7) count indictment of Kenneth Lyons, 36, of Ocean, New Jersey, for Attempted Murder and Aggravated Arson.
According to a statement released by authorities, the indictment stems from a fire he allegedly set to a Toms River home and vehicle.
Authorities say on April 7, 2018, at approximately 1:30 am, police and fire units responded to a structure and vehicle fire at 6 Castro Grove Drive in Toms River.
Units from Silverton, Pleasant Plains, and East Dover fire companies responded and extinguished both the structure fire and the Hyundai Sonata vehicle fire which was parked at the residence according to police.
Toms River Officers noting suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire immediately secured the scene and notified fire investigation personnel to respond.
Toms River Police Detective Andrew Chencharik, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Detective Thomas Haskell Jr., and Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention Officer Dominick Roselli conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Detectives Jordan Toscano and Jillian Marin.
The subsequent investigation would lead to the identification and arrest of Kenneth Lyons, an acquaintance of the victim, as the defendant who is alleged to have deliberately set both fires. Lyons remains incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail.