PLUMSTED — An Eatontown woman who suffered burns in a wooded area is accused of giving investigators false information that led to criminal charges against her boyfriend, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Oct. 23.
Chelsea Villano, 33, faces two counts of falsely incriminating another following an investigation into the Oct. 15 incident near Hawkin and Success roads.
Police and emergency medical personnel responded to the area around 1:36 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a woman with burns. Responders found Villano injured and in distress. She was taken to Temple University Burn Center in Philadelphia and released several days later.
During interviews with investigators, Villano alleged that her boyfriend, Justin Martin, 36, of Saddle Brook, had tried to burn and kill her while they were in the woods with another person, authorities said.
Martin was charged Oct. 16 with attempted murder and aggravated arson. Detectives arrested him in Asbury Park around 12:15 a.m. that day and brought him to the Ocean County Jail. He was released Oct. 19.
Further investigation determined that Villano had falsely described both the circumstances of her injuries and who was responsible, prosecutors said. Authorities did not disclose how she sustained the burns or announce whether the charges against Martin had been dismissed.
Villano was taken into custody Oct. 23 at Eatontown Police Headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she remained pending a detention hearing.
The investigation involved the prosecutor’s office, New Jersey Conservation Police, Plumsted police, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Asbury Park police, Eatontown police, Keansburg police and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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