Convict Captured Shortly After Escape From NJ State Prison: DOC

MAURICE RIVER TOWNSHIP, NJ — An Ocean County man was captured shortly after he escaped from a state prison in Cumberland County Thursday morning, according to officials.

Peter Rusch, of Seaside Heights, escaped from Bayside State Prison in Maurice River Township Thursday morning, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Rusch was captured shortly after the alert went out that he had escaped, according to New Jersey Department of Corrections Spokesman Chris Carden.

Rusch is serving 17 years in connection with an armed robbery that took place under the boardwalk over the course of two days in 2009.

He was convicted of first degree armed robbery, third degree possession of a knife for an unlawful purpose and 4th degree unlawful possession of a knife in 2011, and the sentence was upheld by an appellate court in 2014. Read more here: Sentence Upheld For Seaside Heights Under-The-Boardwalk Armed Robber

In the incident in question, Rusch lured the victim under the boardwalk, assaulted him and held a knife to his throat while taking $60 to $100. The victim finally escaped his predicament and ran home, according to authorities.

The victim ran into Rusch again the following day, at which time Rusch assaulted him a second time, according to authorities. The two men didn’t know each other.

Rusch was being housed in a minimum-security facility on the property where Bayshore Prison sits. It is a transitional facility for prisoners who are preparing to be released after completing their sentences. Rusch had two years left before he was to be eligible for parole, according to Department of Corrections records.