Body Found In Charred Car In Plumsted Woods Has Been Identified: Prosecutor's Office

How 86-year-old Jean R. Bencivinga of Whiting ended up dead in the front seat of a burned-out car in the Plumsted woods back in May is still a mystery.

But the Ocean County Medical Examiner recently identified the elderly woman more than two months after firefighters discovered her body after they responded to smoke in the area of Route 539 and the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area on May 1, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Bencivinga had to be identified through dental records, he said.

"The Medical Examiner has not issued a cause and manner report yet," Della Fave said.

Firefighters from the Joint Base Fire Department originally thought they were responding to a brush fire. But about a mile into the woods, they found a vehicle on the side of Hawkins Road, with significant fire and heat damage.

When they looked even closer, they found a deceased person in the driver's side of the vehicle, said Capt. Jack Sramaty, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has said.

"It appears at this time that there is no foul play, however, the investigation is continuing and the exact cause of and manner of death has not yet been determined, Sramaty said on May 1.

The incident is under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office, Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office, Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Plumsted Township, he said.

Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.