‘JERSEY DEVIL’: NEW JERSEY MAN ACCUSED OF SETTING GIRLFRIEND ON FIRE AND ABANDONING HER IN WOODS

A camping trip in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens allegedly turned into a terrifying fight for survival after a 36-year-old man allegedly set his girlfriend on fire and left her severely injured in the wilderness.

Justin D. Martin, of Saddle Brook, New Jersey, faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated arson in connection with the October 15, 2026, attack in the Colliers Mills area of Plumsted Township, according to authorities and court documents cited by the New York Post.

The victim reportedly suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation but managed to find a worker in the wooded area and beg for help. Her desperate plea led to a 911 call that brought emergency responders to the scene.

Injured Woman Begs Stranger to Call 911

The emergency call came in at approximately 1:36 p.m., according to court documents.

The woman reportedly told the worker that her boyfriend had tried to kill her and set her on fire before fleeing in a Chrysler 200.

When first responders arrived, they found her conscious but seriously injured. She was treated at the scene before being flown to the Temple University Burn Center in Philadelphia.

Authorities later reported that she was in stable condition.

Her ability to reach another person despite her injuries proved crucial in getting emergency medical assistance.

Alleged History of Abusive Behavior

Investigators reportedly learned from the victim’s mother that Martin had allegedly displayed abusive behavior before the camping trip.

According to the court documents cited in media reports, the mother described previous incidents involving verbal abuse and objects allegedly being thrown at her daughter. In another reported incident, Martin allegedly left the woman stranded at Freehold Raceway Mall.

A stranger reportedly helped the woman arrange transportation to her mother’s home after that incident.

Investigators are examining the couple’s history as they work to establish what led to the alleged attack in the woods.

The allegations concerning previous incidents have not independently established guilt in the current case.

Suspect Allegedly Tracked Down in Asbury Park

Authorities began searching for Martin after the injured woman identified him as the person who allegedly attacked her and fled.

Investigators eventually tracked his Chrysler 200 to Asbury Park, where police located him with another man and a woman inside the vehicle.

According to reports, the vehicle showed signs of having travelled through sandy terrain.

The man accompanying Martin reportedly told investigators that he had been sleeping in the back seat and knew nothing about the alleged attack. Detectives ended that interview after he did not cooperate further, according to the reports.

Martin declined to answer investigators’ questions and requested an attorney.

He was arrested on October 16 and was being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, according to the latest reporting.

Attempted Murder and Arson Charges

Martin faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated arson. The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors will need to establish the allegations through the legal process.

The victim’s reported survival and account of the incident are central to the investigation. Authorities have not publicly established every detail of what happened during the camping trip.

The Pine Barrens, a vast forested region of southern New Jersey, is known for its remote woodland areas. In this case, the injured woman’s ability to find help in the isolated terrain was critical.

For the victim and her family, the immediate focus is recovery after a frightening ordeal. Investigators continue working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.

Source: New York Post