Police Identify Female Body Found in Woods; Cause of Death Ruled as Homicide

EGG HARBOR TWP. – The remains of a woman found in the woods in Egg Harbor Township have been identified and the death has been ruled a homicide, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

The victim, who was found by a hunter on Sunday, Jan. 5, in the woods near Broadway Avenue, has been identified as Tara Rogers Alicea, 30, of Monroeville, New Jersey.

The victim was initially identified from photographs of tattoos released to the public. Detectives subsequently confirmed the identity based on finger print analysis. A DNA analysis is also in progress.

The NJ Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the cause of Alicea’s death as asphyxiation with strangulation and ruled her death a homicide. The victim’s next of kin have been notified.

This homicide is under investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit in conjunction with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.

Anyone who has any information pertaining to this case or has noticed any suspicious activity in the area is asked to call the Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652- 1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.