Woman attacked at Route 1 hotel

A South River man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly beat a 47-year-old housekeeping employee of the Red Roof Inn on New Road in South Brunswick.

By: Nick D’Amore
   Three people were charged last week in connection with a Thursday afternoon assault on a housekeeping employee of the Red Roof Inn on New Road.
   Scott Oross, 28, of Willet Avenue in South River was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly beat a 47-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld by South Brunswick police because there is a possibility that she was sexually assaulted, said Detective Ed George during a press conference Friday.
   Mr. Oross is being held on $500,000 bail. Bail had been set at $250,000 but was raised during his arraignment Monday.
   The woman sustained a punctured lung, a broken jaw, a small skull fracture, numerous broken ribs and contusions and trauma on her neck, which means she may have been choked, police said.
   She is in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
   Mr. Oross was tracked down at the Ramada Inn in North Brunswick and was arrested at 11 p.m., police said.
   Detective George said Mr. Oross had come to the motel to get narcotics and admitted to being under the influence of cocaine and alcohol at the time.
   "He had no prior relationship with the victim, it was a random attack," said Detective George.
   Mr. Oross was seen by witnesses brandishing swords beforehand. Detective George said the swords were not used in the attack and that Mr. Oross was giving them to somebody at the Red Roof Inn.
   Public Information Officer Jim Ryan said Mr. Oross had cut his hand while handing one of the swords to someone else at the motel. He went to laundry room to get a towel for his hand. The victim, who was doing laundry there, gave him one, which he threw back at her. He then proceeded to beat her, said Officer Ryan.
   Police came to the scene after receiving a 911 call at 1:13 p.m. and searched the motel room-by-room for 90 minutes, police said. Police said officers then located a suspicious vehicle at the Community Center in Woodlot Park on New Road about a half-mile from the Red Roof Inn. Police located the truck between 5 and 5:30 p.m. while looking for suspects.
   The swords were found in a 2001 Dodge Durango, owned by Mr. Oross’ fiancee, Christine Brady, 27, of Buttonwood Drive in Sayreville.
   Ms. Brady was charged with hindering the apprehension of Mr. Oross and for false swearing. Police said that after they had found the car, Ms. Brady called and tried to report her truck stolen. When questioned by police, Ms. Brady had originally told police that Mr. Oross’ name was Keith Jones.
   She’s being held on $50,000 bail, as is another woman, Diane Burns, 49, who also was charged with hindering Mr. Oross’ apprehension and false swearing. Ms. Brady’s bail had been set at $25,000, but was raised during her arraignment on Monday.
   Police said Ms. Burns was driving the car in which Mr. Oross fled the scene.
   Detective George said she took him from the scene and dropped him off elsewhere.
   "She was not cooperative or truthful," he said.
   Ms. Burns’ son and Mr. Oross grew up together in Jamesburg, said Detective George. She and her daughter live at the Red Roof Inn.
   North Brunswick, South River and Sayreville police departments were also involved in the investigation and arrests.