Man identified as from Jackson, N.J.
New Jersey State Police have identified the man found Monday morning apparently burned to death along the bike path in the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park along Route 29 in Kingwood Township.
The victim has been identified as William Murphy, 63, of Jackson. Mr. Jackson was the lead instructor for the Linden High School Navy Junior ROTC program.
Detectives from the State Police’s Kingwood barracks, the State Police Crime Scene Unit and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating.
According to Prosecutor Anthony Kearns, “A passerby reported the man on fire approximately 9:45a.m. State Troopers from Kingwood responded with the Frenchtown Police and the Kingwood Fire Company. The victim was deceased upon their arrival. The Hunterdon County Medical Examiner will be determining the identity of the victim and the exact cause and manner of death.”
Lt. Stephen Jones of the State Police said Monday afternoon the matter was being looked at as a possible suicide.
He said the passerby reported “a person on fire.”
A vehicle presumed to belong to the victim was found nearby, the trooper said.