Police identify man whose remains were found in the Arthur Kill

Police identify man whose remains were found in the Arthur Kill
Police vehicle with lights on at a crime scene.

ELIZABETH, NJ – On May 16, police discovered parts of a human body floating in the vicinity of the Arthur Kill and Elizabeth River.

After multiple recoveries throughout May, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Elizabeth Police Department confirmed the remains as those of Woldy Ventura-Cruz, a 34-year-old resident of Elizabeth.

The Union County Medical Examiner’s Office declared the cause of death as homicide after examining the remains. The identity of Mr. Ventura-Cruz was further confirmed through subsequent testing.

The joint investigation into Mr. Ventura-Cruz’s death continues.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Filipe Afonso at (908) 603-7116, Prosecutor’s Office Detective Kenneth Luongo at (908) 347-1935, or Elizabeth Police Department Detective James Szpond at (908) 558-2041.

Police identify man whose remains were found in the Arthur Kill