Manchester Township –
A visit to a popular privately-owned 7000-acre tract of land in Manchester on Saturday afternoon ended tragically for a 23-year-old Plainfield man. Edwin Caballero visited the Heritage Mineral property on Saturday and went missing between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Caballero’s body was recovered submerged in a body of water commonly referred to as “Crystal Lake” on Sunday morning by members of the New Jersey State Police Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists (T.E.A.M.S.) unit.
On Saturday, July 4, 2020 at approximately 10 p.m., members of the Manchester Township Police were dispatched to the “Crystal Lake” area of the Heritage Minerals property, more commonly known as ASARCO, to investigate the report of a missing 23-year-old male. Upon arrival, officers learned that Plainfield resident, later identified as Edwin Caballero, had been missing since between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. Caballero was reported to have last been seen near the shoreline of “Crystal Lake.” At that time, family members were uncertain if Caballero had returned to the water, where he had been throughout the day or if he had walked into the nearby wooded area. As a result, numerous members of both the police department and the local volunteer fire departments searched the area. Assisting with the search was a member of the Brick Township Police Department’s Drone Unit as well as members of the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit. Despite an exhaustive search involving numerous resources, Mr. Caballero was not located.
Shortly after daybreak on Sunday morning, investigative personnel resumed their search for Mr. Caballero. This included a search of “Crystal Lake by members of the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit. Using advanced marine sonar, the Marine Services Unit located a body submerged in the lake approximately 16 feet below the waterline. The body was recovered by the NJ State Police Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists (T.E.A.M.S.) unit. Shortly thereafter, it was determined to be that of Edwin Caballero. The preliminary investigation indicates that Caballero entered the water and accidentally drowned.
Also assisting with the investigations were members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Unit.
Anyone who may have been at “Crystal Lake” and witnessed this incident is asked to contact Detective Christian Nazario of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Investigation Bureau at 732-657-2009 ext. 4221 or Detective John Carroll of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 732-929-2027.
Originally operated by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), Inc., the property was sold to and subsequently operated by Heritage Minerals until the cessation of mining operations in the early 1980’s. As a former mining site, the property consists of 7,000 acres that connect the eastern section of the township off of Route 37 to the western section, off of Route 70. During its years of operation, the land was mined so deeply that numerous bodies of water often referred to as ‘lakes’ formed. These ‘lakes’ which are actually groundwater aquifers, litter the landscape on the site. Seemingly unassuming, these bodies of water offer many dangers. Because the lakes were formed as a result of the mining operation, they do not have stable bottoms or shore lines, the way naturally occurring lakes do. The banks are very unpredictable and dangerously unstable. Those entering the water will quickly realize that after taking a few steps in the soft, unstable sand that the shoreline ‘shelf’ quickly drops off to depths that exceed 60 feet. Some estimates have the largest ‘lake’ on the property as being up to 300 feet deep.
Because these ‘lakes’ are not fed by any streams but rather by a deep underground source, the water is clear but very cold. These ‘lakes’ are filled with mineral-laden spring water from the underground aquifer and as such buoyancy is reduced. Additionally, the water is also much colder, which can result in a swimmer, even an accomplished one, tiring much faster. The characteristics of these ‘lakes’ to include unstable shoreline shelves and water composition have been attributed to several drownings which have occurred on the property.
The Manchester Township Police Department would like to remind the public that the Heritage Minerals or “ASARCO” site is private property. It is closed for recreational and/or other use and it is a criminal offense to enter or remain on the property. In the interest of public safety, the Manchester Township Police urges everyone to obey the “No Trespassing” signs posted at the site. Trespassers are subject to hefty fines and penalties up to and including incarceration for being on the property.
Fuckin Bennys need to stay out of our woods.
Brandon Ebbs true
Really? That is what you have to say? Good God… And may you never visit the South.
Jennie Russburg I know how to act, so therefore you wouldn’t even know I was there
Brandon Ebbs It is more about morals and being a good human for someone who has passed. Nothing more to say than that. Sir.
Okay.. Fair. I morally don’t give a fuck some jerkoff from North Jersey that comes down and trashes our woods got killed from being stupid.
Brandon Ebbs we all partied in the woods. We all respected our woods far more than the punks of today! However. A life is a life. And I view it as that. That soul went there to have fun as any of us would have, not to die. Have sympathy.
Yeah because I should have sympathy for a scumbag that rides a jetski in a man made lake with no runoff to filter the pollutants.
Brandon Ebbs yeah well maybe you should patrol it. Or pay more taxes to make sure no one else loses a life. God…
Brandon Ebbs you have to be a real scumbag to talk shit about a man when he is dead.
Brandon Ebbs rude
Ray George your point?
Jennie Russburg dont give a fuck where you live. Locals don’t want them in our woods for this exact reason. Plus the garbage and destruction they leave behind.
Outsiders fuck it up for locals. It’s sad but true it kinda harsh yeah but he was the dumb ass who did it.
Brandon Ebbs you sound like a real fun person. Now or then lol. And I don’t care where you live as long as it is not next to me. lol. You sound like a horror. Garbage. See. We nor anyone I knew left garbage. Maybe the “Metalheads”.. lol… Oh noo…
Give me wood give me fire give me all I desire lmaooooooo
Im dying ovaaaa here lololol
Brandon Ebbs really??? You know how to act????
Immature!!!!!! That’s how you act!!!!! Someone’s child, son lost their life. Oh wait, your from Jersey your perfect!!!!!!
Brandon Ebbs I agree northern jersey people need to stay away from our woods and I personally think your a great person and always fun to hang out wit
Learn how to swim to cold
Tomas Lavallo you can’t swim in there…if its to cold or not they say the current is strong as hell
Carita Griffin no current plain water next
Swam across that lake a million times. No current.
Michael Downing get my back 3 lakes out there
Michael Downing
Carita Griffin
No current, what happens is when a sand ledge collapses into an air pocket it pulls you down
Tomas Lavallo ummmm then how come so many drown out there, i remember one boy drowned out there and he was a good ass swimmer he still drowned…i just think its a part where you can and can’t swim but like I said even manchestwr will tell you its a strong current out there somewhere
Carita Griffin because there’s some parts that turn a cold immediately and give you sharp pins and needles…. There’s no current!
Carita Griffin who is they! No current. Temperate water. Deep! End of story
Carita Griffin private property
no current. No also to when the ledges collapse the air pockets pulls u down. No to the parts that turn cold immediately cause sharp pins and needles. These are false misconceptions. The water is mineral water. Meaning it has less buoyancy then normal freashwater such as Cedar water which is found in all the lakes that are legal to swim in in ocean county. Also the reports of the lake being 100ft plus deep are false. Deepest part of the lake is 57ft. The lake is fed by a natural spring at the south/west end of the lake. Which causes the cold water. Due to the lack of buoyancy / and slightly cooler water causes fatigue to set in faster. And that is what causes 98% of the drownings out there.
Larry Caldwell finally someone that knows what he’s talking about ????????????????
Larry Caldwell it’s very dangerous and there is no trespassing there
Jay Johnson sometimes things need to be set straight. Lol.
Christine Mellen-Sloan yes I know. I’m on the twp fire department dive team.
Keep it coming snow flake
Larry Caldwell Some estimates have the largest ‘lake’ on the property as being up to 300 feet deep.
Tomas Lavallo definitely less bouyant. No current though. Crazy fish in the second lake also. Alot of people drown out there because they drink like fish and get all drunk and attempt to swim in the freezing water.
Michael Downing Until the natural
Spring at the bottom begins to run
Kelly Harris entirely false. How can it be 300ft deep when it was only mined to 120 before they hit the spring. Over the years the lake has lengthened and widened due to erosion. Which has caused the loose sandy soil to fill in half of the mine.
Cami Toft begins to run? The spring never stops feeding the lake. It literally runs out of the ground on the west end.
The only thing I’ve ever seen run out there is the drunks when the Manchester popo rolls in.
Michael Downing that’s how you can tell their not from around here. Us locals just go deeper in the woods. ????????????????
Bone Hill road is for Bennie’s. Locals use the back of mule road.
Lean how to swim if you wanna go to Manchester don’t buy dope
Larry Caldwell is it legal to be there is he doin Manchester dope question need to be answered
Larry Caldwell i copied and pasted from the article. So either you’re correct or the article and I’m going with the article. Not some random person saying it’s false
Kelly Harris lmao. Ok I’m some random person saying it’s false. Might wanna read the comment right above your comment that u copied and pasted. You know the one that says I’m on the twp’s rescue dive team. But hey I’ve only trained and dive that lake regularly. What do I know. ????♂️????♂️????♂️????♂️
Larry Caldwell that still doesn’t change that you’re a random person to me. And I’m still going to take what the article says way more.
Larry Caldwell
Kelly Harris so what about this article that says it’s only 26-30ft deep. That’s a big difference. The article you read say some estimates say it’s 300. Which means that’s what they think it is not what it actually is. But hey again. I dive the lake regularly what do I know. This is the problem everyone reads the news and believes everything is accurate on what they say. But then someone who actually knows the places, dives it regularly, has been on the dive calls for the last 6 people that have drowned. And they are wrong????♂️.
Larry Caldwell
Larry Caldwell everyone reads and believes it? Wouldn’t that mean if I read and believed what you said. I’d be believing whatever i see on the internet so…
Told ya Bryan Boccelli
Pretty sure that’s the guy that got thrown from the green&white Jetske in the middle of the lake yesterday
Prayers to his loved ones ????????????
That was a great report, especially the part where you tell everyone where it is.
Billy did they? No one knew?
Iz Rob sure, many knew. But the ones that didn’t, now they do
Billy, they have been advertising deaths there for over 10 years…
Who doesn’t know?
Yup. Lived in Manchester. NOTHING new. Nothing anyone in the surrounding areas didn’t know about. It is private property, marked as such and is often patrolled to avoid trespassing. Also, knowing basically where it is does not mean you know how to get in or exactly where it’s located. That’s a really big area.
Billy Taddeo ???????????? Asarco location has been know to many over the years. It’s not a secret. At one time it was listed in NY’s camping guide as one of the top 10 camping locations. Next to glidens it is the second largest spot known to illegal ride. If someone didn’t know about it. They’ve been living under a rock their whole life.
Jennifer Sigrist Johnson is your brother Aaron?
Larry Caldwell second secret question were is gliddens? Quarry. I know. The green. Wonder. It begins. With. Clay
Lol. I didn’t know until a couple years ago. My rock was pretty nice though
Jennie Russburg yes
Jennifer Sigrist Johnson funny.
Billy Taddeo what I meant was. The majority know or know someone who knows about it and where it is. It’s really not a secret anymore. I’ve grown up in manchester for 40 years. Basically asarco was my backyard. Learned to ride out there. Spent many nights wheeling out there. Yes in the 80’s thru mid 90’s it was a secret and was only known to locals. But since the start of social media the place is basically a tourist attraction now. 1 guy tells his 10 friends about it. They each tell another ten friends about it. Word of mouth is what put asarco on the map. To think at some point 1 guy ruined the secret forever.
Larry Caldwell well the 90’s, early 2000’s good. Then about. 2009-10. Sign’s went up.
Jennie Russburg we had a big dive call out there for a drowning in 96. That’s about when it really started to go down hill.
Larry Caldwell I am not recalling that exactly.
I know the Briar Hill Entrance at the end of Bonehill road, the kind of” discreet ” no entrance signs. Back then… The very yet, obvious signs. I just remember the signs going up because a family member lived in there. All the ATV’s would drive right down bone hill to get to the end. Then the signs went up. Not like it stopped them but…
Larry Caldwell not Briar Hill anymore of course
Melissa Watkins Miller !!!!
Zdee Elizabeth just saw this !! Crazy +
Laurie McGann Lamereaux
Every year
Stacie Cullen
????????????????
Stephanie Seeward Amanda Elizabeth Natoli
Karen Vermeal yes I know all about it.
Stephanie Seeward ok didn’t know if you saw this. So sad and scary !!
Karen Vermeal yes it is very scary. The all the non locals that go out their with Jet skis and boats. There was a whole bunch of people out there yesterday drinking and whatever else they were doing. But it was a bunch of non locals out there yesterday. All the locals were home because of what goes out there on 4th of July in something always happens on 4th of July out there.
Dan Salas
Dylan Ramistella
If you are NOT familiar with that area of the lake you have NO BUSINESS being there. Sad that someone so young lost his life but the locals know where to go and where not go.
Deborah McDermott wtf kind of comment is that.just don’t say anything.jesus you’re a gem.youre so cool cause you’re a local ???????? come get your trophy
Shea Graham all I’m saying is locals know what areas you can swim in and which areas to avoid. It’s sad that he lost his life because of lack of knowledge. Not saying it to be mean or hateful.
Deborah McDermott you’re right.youre free to say what you want.but if I was a family member or friend reading this,it comes across super mean.
Oh well, his family should have known better. Fucking morons. Now they can suffer their own damn stupidity.
Steven Whitfield Jr
Patrick Malfettano
Rocco Poliseo damn. It’s no joke.
I miss the 90’s no Facebook no problem in the woods everyone took care of the woods and each other
Probably drunk. Locals know better
From Plainfield? What the hell you doing back there? Sorry, not sorry
Austin Allan
No sympathy for the kid but for his family. Idiot
Steve Veldkamp none for his family either. Who takes a family trip to a lake you know nothing about. I bet they regret it now.
Aida Soriano this is the place we were talking about
another one…
Anne Sloan
Zack Seeds
So sad…. Manchester PD try so hard to keep them out…
Kathy Marzano try??? It was like a parade watching the cars flow out of there ranging from NY,CT,DE, and MD plates and some without license plates even on their BMW cars… yes cars not SUVs.. it was a joke yesterday trying to even walk my dog in our neighborhood without getting hit by all the vehicles flowing out of there.. something needs to be done or stopped.. and it not then their shouldn’t be a problem or me being stopped when walking my dog back there if all these out of staters can come and go as they please
Jamie Maushardt true… By try hard … They been giving out hefty fines…they just started towing vehicles. That’s why those signs are up. I was told if you see someone parking their cars and going out in another to call to have them removed. It sucks because they have people watch and as soon as manchester leaves they let the rest know they left
.
I wish more is being done cause your right you can walk your dog cause of all the broken glass. I don’t like my kid to ride his bike .. Cause of the assholes.
Kathy Marzano I did notice saturday people circling around trying to get in, there was more police presence sunday coming in and out. But I’m sure it was because of the unforeseen tragedy
Jonathan De Leon
My condolences to the family and friends. May he R.I.P. ????????
Fuckin great. Some more non local assholes fucking it up for the people who belong around here.
Erik Dollman morons post their weekend on YouTube videos too. GTFO
just put lifeguards in there
Bruce Beyer it’s private property with no trespassing signs everywhere.
With signs around the water saying no swimming.
David Quinones They should open it up as a beach club
Sorry someone died, but typical benny…trespassing and doing stupid shit. Do people think they’ve found a hidden gem of a swimhole? LOL locals know better.
At least you spelled Asarco right
Will people never learn….so sad.
Kevin Tortorello
Guess he couldn’t read (no trespassing) and he couldn’t swim. Not a good combination.
Peter Reils????
Condolences to the young man’s family.????
Cole Hadley
Sad…
This happens every year because it’s a beautiful alluring lake and people from N. Jersey or outside of Manchester have no idea how dangerous it really is. Several people have died in that lake dating back to early 90s
????
Eric Karstensen James Foley
Heartbreaking my thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Complete fucking morons. Thats all there is to it. Im a local, but you wont catch me swimming in that lake because im not a fucking idiot. All these dumb shits hitting wawa before they head out as if they going to the beach. No dumbasses, you’re heading for your death. Plain and simple. Stay the hell outta our woods. ????
How the hell did someone from out of town even know about it???..
Tom Engelhard the powers of the ol’ internet.
Go back there on any weekend and you’ll see almost every car/truck with NY plates! Its worse than Sleaside in the middle if summer. And they all ride with no helmets or like they are going to a club. This was a couple weekends ago and I could only laugh
I do not know these people. But they rolled in with NY plates dumped their quads and hopped on and rode out. They need to stay away!
Stephanie Heintjes we lived back there by the railroad tracks. The cops would show up and we would hit the trails and walk home. I guess now it’s out of control ????
Ruthie Rachel Sasala its sad really. We are local and ride out. We steer clear of the lake but we do pass by to get to the trails and its like a party
Just today I saw a home depot rental trailer hawling a Polaris with NY plates.. mean while Manchester PD hanging out on RT 37 by the power lines doing nothing..
Kristen Martin
Tammy Pierson
I never heard of this lake, whats so dangerous about it if i might ask
Patricia Lorraine Zennario can’t touch the bottom
Patricia Lorraine Zennario old mineral quarries often have thermo layers where if you go below a certain depth the water is much colder and can put your body in shock. Also the bottom is very soft and can trap you. Another thing (unsure if crystal lake has it or not just from other places) they have tunnels that would have pumps or fans in them for mining. Even though they arent being used they can cause a suction down and trap people and cause them to drown.
I was thinking maybe some pumps or something, crazy. Thanks for the info
There are tunnels and caves under there from what I’ve heard from divers that train there
Stephanie Heintjes it should be blocked off somehow so ppl cant get in.
Patricia Lorraine Zennario impossible to do. Dozens of ways in via multiple trails.
Patricia Lorraine Zennario well it’s super deep for one. They used to pull cars out of the bottom of that lake.????????
Ruthie Rachel Sasala wow, never been there, or even heard of it before this.
Patricia Lorraine Zennario we used to live close to the woods there . We found it by accident actually , while walking the dog to the right towards et 37 east( trails ) and about 20 minutes over a little hill there was this beautiful lake.it is literally like Bahama colored water, clear and turquoise , mostly on sunny days.
Ruthie Rachel Sasala wow
Ruthie Rachel Sasala Where is this? I’m trying to figure out where and I can’t!
Carol Vineyard do you know where the old Wawa used to be in rt 37 on the light ? Nick’s pizza used to be there in the same little plaza.well it’s across the street into the woods . One way is, where pine acres manor is( the trailer park) in back there is the woods. The railroad tracks, if you go west on the trails then north and west you will find it. About a 20 minute walk from pine acres manor.
Patricia Lorraine Zennario These deaths happen EVERY year. You would think they would figured out how to block it off by now. Unreal
Ruthie Rachel Sasala Ok, thank you. Pine Acres Manor I’m familiar with. I got the general area now, Thanks again for your help.
What did I say Alyssa Erin Harden Jake Wilson, I pretty much knew it would happen…
David Meyer it was only a matter of time
Now the fuzz is gonna stop everyone from going there
Oh yeah
And this is why we hate bennies and all our locals can’t have fun on property around here anymore.
David Meyer I know we cant have anything nice
David Meyer are you fucking serious? Grow up
Michele Martin yes, very serious.
David Meyer yes. The whole idea of personal responsibility is dead. If you go to the lake and drown, it is no ones fault but your own. Not Manchester PD, not Hovnanian, not your 3rd grade science teacher. This nanny state bullshit is why everything’s so fucked up rite now
Nick Terrone
You are all a bunch of assholes. It’s called an accidental drowning. You can drown anywhere. I grew up here and went there many times. You don’t have to be a local to go there and know someone from here. You are some real pieces of shit to say someone deserves it and because he’s not a local he deserves it. I hope it happens to you and your family and then let’s hear you talk shit. Take a fucking seat!
Nina Fazio I was thinking the same thing but you beat me to it. No compassion!
Darlene Mary Cook
Daniel Cook
Katrina Miller
Kylie Ghiandoni damn man. rip prayers for his family. Such a young Age.
What a shame, sorry for the families loss!
Rj Clifton
Oh no ???????????? praying for his family ???????????? I used to live by there. We used to walk the trails and take the dogs out there for a swim. How horrible and very sad????????
Art Wolf
????????????????????????????????
Damn it sucks. But I’m pretty sure it’s private property and off limits to everyone and entering the property is trespassing. And honestly being a local WHY DO I HAVE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN EVERY SUMMER?!
Robert Connelly you didn’t see it.
Robert Connelly it is private property I work for the owners
Prayers for this guy who “has to see this happen every summer”
wow the comments are horrible!!! Somebody has died!
That “lake” is so polluted! It’s run off from back in the day. It’s not blue naturally.
It’s not a public beach
Bill Wimmer every freaking year!
Kayla Pace you know this place?
Dawn Michele I know it, but I’ve never been. Countless people have died swimming here. At least once a year.
Kayla Pace so sad
Briana Cafone
That Lake scares me I used to swim in it when I was a kid