Popcorn Park Adds $1,000 Donation To Growing List Of Contributors For Reward Leading To Swan Family Killers

BAYVILLE, NJ - The list of contributors who are donating to a reward fund to find whoever killed the much-loved swan family on Bayview Avenue in Bayville recently just keeps growing.

Associated Humane Societies Popcorn Park shelter announced today they would donate $1,000 to the reward fund.

"This horrifying incident happened between Sunday and Monday (Labor Day weekend) when the swan family was crossing Bayview Avenue in Bayville, NJ," the organization's Facebook page states. "A local resident that knew the swan family well came across the bodies of the mother and youngsters. It's quite clear that a motorist deliberately drove over the family and we can only hope that these poor birds did not suffer and died quickly."

Associated Humane is asking anyone with information to contact them at 609-693-1900.

"We at Associated Humane Societies are offering a $1,000 reward for anyone that can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the despicable, horrible person that did this," the post states.

A number of Bayville residents have offered to pay a $1,500 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever was involved in the deaths of a mother swam and her babies on Bayview Avenue.

The little swan family was a familiar fixture in the lagoons and tidal marshes off Bayview Avenue in Bayville.
The mother and father swan kept careful watch over their babies. The swans would glide up to Donna Matusik's lagoon home, where she would feed them. Sometimes they followed other residents who would kayak in the area.

Now only the confused father swan is left, perched at the end of one lagoon, waiting for his family.

The mother and her babies were mowed down by someone who couldn't take the time to let them cross the roadway. Neighbors in the area are heartbroken over the loss of the little family.

The mother swan and her four babies were found off the roadway, apparently hit by someone. They have since been removed by Berkeley Township Animal Control.

Resident Jim Giffoniello has offered a $500 reward and resident Fred Dorski has added to that with $100. They were followed by C&C Marina, which agreed to put up $600, Donna Martusik and her family have chipped in $100 and Cheryl Altieri and Beth Jacob-Altieri both agreed to make $100 donations, according to the Facebook page Bayville...Best Place on Earth.

With Associated Humane Societies donation today, the reward money now tops $2,500.

Giffoniello also contacted Berkeley Township police and Animal Control about the incident, he said on Facebook.

"The Detective bureau has made me their contact," he posted. "I made them aware that I had posted a $500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved. They said they would keep me posted. Of course I will post any information I receive from them."

Bayview Avenue in that section of Bayville is a long stretch of roadway that bisects the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge that used to be part of the old AT&T property. Some drivers go way too fast where the speed limit is tops 45 miles per hour in some sections.

The mother swan and her four babies - two white and two tan - must have been killed during the daytime on Sunday or Monday, said Matusik, who saw them every day.

Photos: Bayville... Best Place On Earth Facebook page.