Ocean County Resident Arrested for Arson

Ocean County Resident Arrested for Arson

According to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, on April 15, 2025, Kevin Funchess, 59, of Toms River, was charged with Aggravated Arson in connection with an incident that occurred on April 14, 2025, in Toms River.

On April 14, 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m., the Toms River Township Police Department and Toms River Township Fire Departments responded to Winteringham Village on Route 166 for a report of a structure fire.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that the fire had been extinguished. A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, revealed that the fire originated in the living room of the structure.

The cause of the fire is incendiary by an unknown person(s) using an open flame to ignitable liquid.

Through continuing investigation, Funchess was identified as the individual responsible for setting the fire. Funchess was taken into custody at the scene without incident. He was thereafter transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for shortness of breath; once medically cleared, Funchess will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail where he will remain lodged pending a detention hearing.