February 21, 2023 (update)
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 18, 2023, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office performed a post mortem examination of Billy Kimbrough, 76, of Toms River, whose body was discovered in a structure fire on Roberts Road in Toms River Township on February 16, 2023. The examination concluded that Mr. Kimbrough’s cause of death was Asphyxia Due to Smoke Inhalation and his manner of death is accidental.
On February 16, 2023, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department and Toms River Township Fire Departments were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Roberts Road. During the primary search of the residence, the body of a deceased male later identified as Mr. Kimbrough, the occupant of the residence, was discovered.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, determined that the fire originated on a mattress in the only bedroom of the residence and that smoking cannot be eliminated as the cause of the fire.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.
February 18, 2023
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that the fatal structure fire that occurred on Roberts Road in Toms River Township on February 16, 2023 has been ruled accidental.
On February 16, 2023, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department and Toms River Township Fire Departments were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Roberts Road. During the primary search of the residence, the body of a deceased male later identified as Billy Kimbrough, 76, the occupant of the residence, was discovered.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, determined that the fire originated on a mattress in the only bedroom of the residence and that smoking cannot be eliminated as the cause of the fire. A post mortem examination of the victim is scheduled for today.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.
Fatal Fire Under Investigation In Toms River
Photos by: Ryan Mack, Jersey Shore Fire Response