The investigation into an Oct. 15 fire report at Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area led to charges against the woman who initially told authorities her boyfriend had set her on fire. Chelsea M. Villano, 33, of Eatontown, was charged with two counts of falsely incriminating another person in connection with the incident in Plumsted Township, Ocean County, according to Patch.
Police and EMS were called to the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, near Hawkin Road and Success Road, at 1:36 p.m. that day after a caller reported a woman suffering from burns and in distress, as reported by Patch. Villano told both the 911 caller and law enforcement that her boyfriend, Justin D. Martin, had tried to kill her and set her on fire, the outlet reported. Martin was arrested in the early hours of Oct. 16 following that preliminary investigation, as noted by Patch.
About Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area
Colliers Mills is state-managed land used for wildlife management and outdoor recreation. According to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, the area is managed for upland game, deer and waterfowl; hiking and horseback riding are available on its paths and unpaved roads.
Injuries Didn't Add Up, Prosecutor Says
The investigation later raised questions about how Villano was injured. Ocean County Prosecutor Mara Brater said medical professionals determined the injuries were more consistent with fire blowback than with someone dousing and setting her alight, Patch reported. Brater also said a search of Martin's car found no evidence of a fire inside and no alcohol other than a small vodka shooter, according to Patch.
On Oct. 23, the prosecutor's office said further investigation found that Villano had given law enforcement false information about how she was injured and who caused it. The office said she blamed a second man because she did not want her boyfriend to get in trouble, Patch reported. Villano was charged with two counts of falsely incriminating another person in connection with the Plumsted incident, according to Patch.
Charges Against Boyfriend Dropped
The prosecutor's office dropped the charges against Martin in the interest of justice, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said, according to Patch. Villano was expected to be released from custody on Oct. 28 pending further court action, subject to conditions that included no contact with Martin or the other man she had accused, Patch reported.
The charging decisions mark a reversal from the initial investigation: prosecutors dropped the charges against Martin, while Villano faces two counts alleging that she falsely identified another person as responsible.
