Son Indicted For Dad's Murder In Lacey Home: Prosecutor

LACEY, NJ — A Lacey man was indicted for the murder of his father at their home in 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

Justin Donaldson, 38, was indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 20, 2025 for the murder of David Donaldson, 67, on Sept. 7, 2022, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Justin Donaldson had a long history of mental illness prior to the slaying, according to the affidavit of probable cause, but he had never been violent towards his family. He had lived with his father on and off for some time.

On Sept. 7, 2022, after David Donaldson had not been to work in two days, a sibling of Justin Donaldson's went to their shared home.

That sibling found David Donaldson's car in the driveway and a window that had been broken out from inside the house, the affidavit said.

When the sibling asked to see David Donaldson and threatened to call police, Justin Donaldson had a simple response:

"Call a coroner," he said.

The sibling asked Justin Donaldson if their father was responsive, and he responded that David Donaldson was not breathing and "in a coma," according to the affidavit. That was when the sibling called 911, the affidavit said. Read more: No History Of Family Violence From Son Accused Of Killing Lacey Dad: Affidavit

Police entered the house, where David Donaldson was found dead, with apparent trauma to his face, police said.

Justin Donaldson, in addition to claiming the person might not be David Donaldson, told police he broke the man's elbow and "knocked him the f--- out," and that he left him on the floor for two days, breaking the front window to air out the house as his father's body began to decompose, the affidavit said.

Justin Donaldson also repeatedly asked if the coroner could come and revive the individual, according to the affidavit.

He was taken to Ocean County Jail, where he has remained since.