Manalapan Mayor's Wife Accused Of Stealing $5K In Cash, Valuables: Report

FREEHOLD, NJ — The wife of Manalapan Township Mayor Eric Nelson has been accused of stealing over $5,000 in cash and jewelry from a Freehold Township home where she worked as a housekeeper for eight years, according to a report from the Asbury Park Press.

Jennifer Nelson, 52, was charged with one count of third-degree theft in connection with the incident, Freehold Township Police Chief George Baumann said in a news release.

Nelson was charged following a joint investigation by members of the Freehold Township and Freehold Borough Police Departments, which was initiated on May 15 after police received a report of theft.

The investigation found that some of the stolen items were recovered from a local pawn shop where police say Nelson sold them.

Mitchell Ansell, Nelson’s attorney, told the Asbury Park Press that they plan on pleading not guilty and are asking the public to “reserve making any judgment until all the facts come out.”

On May 28, Nelson was also charged with receiving stolen property in East Brunswick, according to municipal court records. The charge stems from an incident on April 22, 2024.

Anyone with further information about Nelson’s activities is asked to contact Freehold Township Police Detective J.T. Baumann at 732-294-5142.