Woman, 71, Critical After Son Beats Her With A Cane: Ocean Prosecutor

MANCHESTER, NJ -- A Manchester Township man has been charged after beating his 71-year-old mother with a cane, leaving her critically injured, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday.

Joseph Cavallaro, 44, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon in the attack that happened Friday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Manchester police were called to a home in Pine Acres Manor mobile home park about 12:15 p.m. for a report of a woman in distress and found the victim with apparent injuries to her face and body, authorites said.

She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she is listed in critical but stable condition, authorities said.

Investigators learned the victim was Cavallaro’s mother, and that Cavallaro had assaulted the victim and beaten her with a cane, authorities said.

Cavallaro was arrested at the scene, but experienced a medical episode and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he is listed in stable condition, authorities said.

He will be taken to the Ocean County Jail when he is released from thr hospital and held pending a detention hearing, authorities said.