Detention Hearing Coming Up In Death Of Marlboro Resident

MARLBORO, NJ — A detention hearing for the man accused of aggravated manslaughter in the New Year's Day death of a man he lived with is scheduled for Wednesday, officials said.

And an affidavit of probable cause contained a few more details of the incident, including that the victim was "repeatedly struck in the head and the face."

George L. Mott III, 64, died in the assault.

Carl A. Richards, 38, has been charged with one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in Mott's death, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago. Both were residents of a house on Texas Road, officials said.

Richards is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold. His first appearance and detention hearing are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 9 a.m. before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon, the prosecutor's office said on Monday.

Mott was found "with severe trauma to his head, face, and neck" at his Morganville residence, just before 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, the prosecutor's office has said.

Marlboro Township Police went to the residence on Texas Road at 12:49 a.m. on New Year's Day, responding to a request for medical assistance for a man who had been assaulted.

Officials said police found Mott unconscious, and first responders rushed him to Old Bridge Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 1:49 a.m.

After an investigation, officials said that the two men had "a verbal dispute," with Richards physically assaulting Mott, "ultimately leading to his death."

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the offense involved domestic violence. It also said that a child or children were present in the home at the time of the offense and were placed at risk.

Multiple cell phones were seized as part of the investigation, the complaint noted.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin J. Sidley of the Major Crimes Bureau.

Richards is represented by attorney Antonio J. Toto.

Patch Local Editor Michelle Rotuno-Johnson first reported this story.