OCPO: Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has announced that on January 5, 2021, Stephen McGuire, 43, of Howell, was charged with Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a, as well as Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.3a, in connection with the death of James Grover, 62, also of Howell, on December 12, 2020. Additionally, McGuire was charged with three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2), Criminal Trespass in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3b, and the motor offenses of Driving While Intoxicated in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, Driving While Intoxicated with a Minor as a Passenger in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.15, and Reckless Driving in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-96.
On December 12, 2020, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to Heritage Minerals Mine, also known as ASARCO, on Route 70 in Whiting, for a report of a motor vehicle accident with a submersion. Responding Officers spoke to a group of individuals who were operating Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs); the group related to the Officers that a UTV had entered the lake at the center of the property, causing the UTV and its passengers to be submerged in the lake.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Manchester Township Police Department revealed that a UTV being driven by McGuire, which included James Grover and three minors as passengers, had entered the lake. The UTV and Mr. Grover did not resurface. The other passengers and members of the group attempted to locate Mr. Grover but were unsuccessful. Manchester Township Police and members of the Manchester, Ridgeway and Whiting Volunteer Fire Companies conducted an underwater dive search and rescue operation and located the UTV overturned and submerged in 25 feet of water. Mr. Grover was attached to the UTV by his safety harness. Mr. Grover was removed from his safety harness, and life-saving measures were performed by Manchester Township Emergency Medical Technicians and Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics. Mr. Grover succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In furtherance of the investigation, McGuire was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River. A search warrant was obtained for a draw of his blood; laboratory results from the blood draw – received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office on January 5, 2021 – revealed that McGuire had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .127 %. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where his/her BAC is .08 or greater.
On January 5, 2021, McGuire was arrested without incident at his residence in Howell by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Officers from Manchester Township Police Department. He is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Manchester Volunteer Fire Company, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services, Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their collaborative efforts relative to this investigation.
The press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Roger Jones
it honestly sounds like an accident. sad for all
Deirdre Marsicano How do you figure apparently he was drunk
Bruce Beyer this was an off roading acident, not on roads. if you’d ever been back there you’d know the ledge drops off very dramatically out of nowhere along most of the lake and if you don’t know it’s very easy to fall off the ledge.
It was a accident but when you mix drinking and atv riding unfortunately this could be the result ,I knew Jim he was my neighbor and a great guy , wish this never happened to him .
Deirdre Marsicano everyone drives around there doing donuts and shit. Accidents happen there
Deirdre Marsicano
Do you think he accidentally got drunk?
Deirdre Marsicano
Do you think he accidentally got drunk?
John LoBasso you should recognize this guy from your past life
Robert Kelly I don’t actually
John LoBasso used to shop that the place that cannot be named.
Robert Kelly no idea. I only remember the sleestack
So sad. The family of the victim has been through enough. This mans poor kids have been though enough. Pray for them all.
Poor guy lost a friend and his freedom
Nick Accatatta
When you say poor guy, you mean guy was drunk, crashed his car, killed his friend and lost his freedom right?
Pierce Cagen
Lindsey McGavin . This what u were talking about?
Lisa Meakem yep, that’s the one.
Lindsey McGavin sad
Lisa Meakem always is when someone dies at Sarco, and almost always by accident.
Lindsey McGavin I’d say most of the time people are first timers or only been out there once or twice. People also don’t realize how deep they think their driving through 1ft of water then bam drop off
Lindsey McGavin I’d say most of the time people are first timers or only been out there once or twice. People also don’t realize how deep they think their driving through 1ft of water then bam drop off
This is so sad, I’m sure he had no intention of having fun and causing his friends death. ????????
Michele Aumack Tragedy is never planed, ????
Mak Kosich But getting drunk and driving is planned
It’s sad all the way around. It was a accident I’m sure this guy is suffering the loss of his friend. Sad
Sad for all.
Prayers
Horrible Story. Very Sad. Sending prayers to the Families. ????????????????????????
Jarod Gile
Beth Love Blewett that’s really fucked up man damn
Sad . But a accidental
Sad . But a accidental
Carl Passiglia the driver was drunk
Chelle Shell who said?
Carl Passiglia lmao his blood alcohol test that was taken
Was a .127
So he was driving the UTV and then fled after it submerged? I’m confused on his involvement unless I’m reading the names wrong in their order.
So he was driving the UTV and then fled after it submerged? I’m confused on his involvement unless I’m reading the names wrong in their order.
Ashley Hansen im also confused the articld is missing things for sure
Ashley Hansen no one fled the scene.
He was the driver. Since his friend had died and his blood alcohol level is above .08, they charged him with his death. Its bullshit if you ask me.
Anthony John Bs to drive intoxicated causing a death of another? lol Happens all the time with motor vehicles what’s the difference?
Steven Michael Fowler yes, its bullshit that he got charged with his death. 4 beers can give you an alcohol level of .12. Ever heard of a fucking ACCIDENT! Dude lost his friend, so lock him up as well! I mean shit, I wish I was as perfect as u!
Anthony John Lol relax, I used to hang with a dude back in the day and he ended up driving drunk and killing his passenger. He went away for a few years. This isn’t rocket science. You know there’s a chance if you drive drunk or under the influence that it may come to bite you in the ass. No one’s perfect but there’s consequences for our actions.
Steven Michael Fowler I understand what you are saying. Now if it was on a road/ highway and an innocent person was killed, then I agree with the punishment. But do you really think his passenger got in that utv, without knowing he was drinking…or better yet, do you think his passenger wasn’t drinking with him?!?!
I thought the driver was the one who passed away? Didn’t the original article say the driver was stuck in his seatbelt? The whole this is sad I’m assuming the driver wasn’t familiar at all with sarco because that water goes deep nobody would purposely drive into that water. Patric Dambroski I tried sending this to your messenger idk if you got it. That water drops off so deep I can’t see anyone driving through that on purpose if they knew?
I thought the driver was the one who passed away? Didn’t the original article say the driver was stuck in his seatbelt? The whole this is sad I’m assuming the driver wasn’t familiar at all with sarco because that water goes deep nobody would purposely drive into that water. Patric Dambroski I tried sending this to your messenger idk if you got it. That water drops off so deep I can’t see anyone driving through that on purpose if they knew?
Meghan Turner Passenger passed away.
Confused
Confused
It’s sad. But he shouldn’t have been operating a vehicle while drinking and he was well over the limit. And unfortunately his actions caused the death of his friend.
Don’t drink and drive
It’s sad. But he shouldn’t have been operating a vehicle while drinking and he was well over the limit. And unfortunately his actions caused the death of his friend.
Don’t drink and drive
Kelly Harris Someone that gets it ????
It was a accident how sad….
Brian Demattio
Everyone is saying oh how sad it’s an accident. His alcohol level was so high ! If it wasn’t his friend and it was somewhere on the road people would be bitching about how drunk they were and should be in jail. Yet this is sad ? How about drink responsibly and dont drink and drive especially with minors.
Kelly Harris
Wow!!! Didn’t expect that! So sad for all involved!
Ive been out there for probably 30 years when it was fun! We used to go out everyday with dirt bikes quads jet ski . Ive been out there on my ski and a plane landed in the first big lake!!
He should be be charged with driving while under the influence and I don’t agree but I get it trespassing not homicide. Absolutely heart breaking
Looks like a piece of shit to me
Jhon Ray what a f’in ignorant ass comment.
Jhon Ray typical scumbag behind a keyboard.
Matthew Fields spot on ????
He is not a piece of shit . Actually a real nice guy who fucked up. A terrible accident. Very sad accident which will change 2 families forever.
Really? I didn’t get that vibe at all from the photo.
George Nieves
This is sad. Steve lives down the street from me and grover was a friend of mine. This is just to much to take in at once. Both are great guys. Horrible accident
So sad.. Steve is one of the hardest working and nicest guy I ever met. Just a fun night that turned bad..I feel bad for everybody involved.
Ashley Griffiths
My heart is broken forever ????
Julia Grover Jacko I’m so Sorry.
Very sad this happened but why is nobody outraged that 3 minors were in car! That’s what we should be concerned with. Terrible either way but anther tragedy that could have been avoided.