Trio indicted in hotel assault

A man and two women are linked to the Red Roof Inn beating.

By: Brian Shappell
   A Middlesex County grand jury has indicted a man and two women in connection with a savage beating of a housekeeping employee at the Red Roof Inn on Route 1 and New Road in September.
   Scott Oross, 28, of Willet Avenue in South River faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted on charges of attempted murder and two separate counts of aggravated assault.
   Mr. Oross is accused of beating a 47-year-old woman who worked at the hotel. Christine M. Bradley, 27, of South River and Diane Burns, 49, whose last permanent address was in Englishtown, were indicted on charges of obstructing justice, hindering an arrest and nine counts of false swearing for aiding Mr. Oross in the hours after the incident.
   The grand jury handed down the indictments Dec. 19.
   "(Ms. Bradley and Ms. Burns) hindered the investigation by providing false information to the police," said Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor William Lamb. "This all happened in hours immediately following the incident, when Mr. Oross was still at large. The info sent police on a wild-goose chase."
   Mr. Oross, who was found less than nine hours after the incident, continues to be held on $500,000 bail at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick. Mr. Oross was tracked down at the Ramada Inn in North Brunswick.
   The beating left the woman in critical condition. She sustained a punctured lung, a broken jaw, a small skull fracture, numerous broken ribs and contusions and trauma to her neck, police said.
   The victim testified before the grand jury, according to Mr. Lamb.
   Police said in September that it was a random attack and that Mr. Oross had no prior relationship with the victim. Mr. Oross allegedly visited the motel to buy narcotics and admitted to being under the influence of cocaine and alcohol at the time, police said.
   Police said Mr. Oross had cut his hand on one of several swords he was carrying and went to the laundry room to get a towel. The victim, who was doing laundry there, gave him one, which he threw back at her, police said. He then proceeded to beat her, police said.
   Police arrived at the scene after receiving a 911 call at 1:13 p.m. and searched the motel room by room for 90 minutes. 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.
   Swords allegedly were found in a 2001 Dodge Durango owned by Ms. Bradley, Mr. Oross’ fiancee. Ms. Bradley allegedly drove the vehicle Mr. Oross used to leave the scene and attempted to report her truck stolen, police said.
   Ms. Burns’ son and Mr. Oross grew up together in Jamesburg, said Detective George. She and her daughter were living at the Red Roof Inn at the time of the incident.