Vehicular Homicide (Arrest) – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 6:02 a.m., Officers George Resetar and Michael Eden responded to Route 539, mile marker 16, for a two-car head-on motor vehicle accident. The accident was determined to be a fatal crash. The Lacey Township Police Department’s Fatal Accident Support Team, along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit (CIU) responded. The deceased was identified as 54-year-old Suzanne Kessler of Whiting, New Jersey. Suzanne Kessler was traveling in the southbound lane of Route 539 when her Chevy Cavalier was struck by a Cadillac Deville being operated by 27-year-old Kenneth M. Busardo of 12 Nantucket Avenue in Barnegat, NJ. Kenneth M. Busardo was traveling northbound on Route 539 when his car travelled into the soundbound lane striking Suzanne Kessler’s vehicle. Kenneth M. Busardo received minor injuries in the crash and refused medical treatment. Kenneth M. Busardo was transported to Southern Ocean County Hospital by investigating officers to have his blood drawn for analysis as part of the investigation into the cause of the fatal accident. There were no other occupants in either vehicle.
On Saturday, October 25, 2014, after the completion of a follow-up investigation, Officer George Resetar signed a criminal complaint charging 27-year-old Kenneth M. Busardo of Barnegat, NJ, with the 2nd Degree crime of Vehicular Homicide as well as the associated motor vehicle violations. Impairment due to the use of Heroin served as the basis for motor vehicle charges of DUI, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain a Lane as well as the 2nd Degree criminal charge of Vehicular Homicide. At 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2014, Officer Resetar arrested Kenneth M. Busardo at his residence in Barnegat and after completing the necessary processing at Lacey Township Police Headquarters, Kenneth M. Busardo was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility with bail set at $250,000.