Death Of Missing Toms River Man Under Investigation

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Authorities are continuing to investigate the death of a Toms River man whose family pleaded for the public's help in finding him over the weekend.

Deane E. LaBranche, 52, was officially reported missing on Jan. 11, Toms River police said Monday. His body was found about 2:35 p.m. Sunday in the marsh area of Shelter Cove Park, police said.

"The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Labranche are still under investigation," Toms River police said.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office sald LaBranche was floating in the water at the edge of the marsh. His body was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River pending an autopsy by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's office.

"While this death is currently under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, there does not appear, at this time, to be any foul play involved," Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

LaBranche's sister, Brooke Spurlock, said police had notified the family a week earlier that his car had been found at Shelter Cove with no sign of him, she wrote in a Facebook post seeking the public's help in finding him.

There were personal items in the car including his guitar, she said, adding that it was out of character for him to have left the items behind, and that the last time anyone had spoken with LaBranche, whose nickname is Dino, was a phone call on Christmas Day.

Spurlock posted an update Sunday evening saying his body had been found.

"It is with great sadness that I announce my brother Dino’s body was found today deceased," she wrote. "Thank you to everyone who assisted in searching for him. I only wish he knew how many people cared and how his community pulled together in the search for him."

On Sunday morning, Spurlock updated the post with information that police said LaBranche had last been seen Jan. 3 at Motel 6 with a woman whose identity was not known.

Detective Jesse Robertazzi of the Toms River Police Department and Detective Alex Bromley of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit are investigating. Anyone with information can reach Robertazzi at 732-349-0150 or Bromley at 732-929-2027, ext. 3271.

Note: This article has been updated with a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.