Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Middletown Man Arrested on Reckless Manslaughter Charges in Father’s Death

A Middletown man has been arrested and charged with reckless manslaughter and related charges for allegedly causing the death of his father, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.  

Kyle Kiernan, 36, has been charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of 62-year-old Lawrence Kiernan.   

At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, Middletown police responded to a residence on the 300 block of Pine Street on a report of an incident of domestic violence. At that time Kyle Kiernan was taken into custody and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) on a charge of simple assault, while Lawrence Kiernan, his father, declined medical attention.

At approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, officers responded back to the home on a report of a medical emergency. Lawrence Kiernan was found unresponsive at the scene and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before noon the same day. 

An investigation involving members of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau and the Middletown Police Department revealed that the injuries Lawrence Kiernan sustained during the physical altercation with his son caused his death, and the charges against Kyle Kiernan were upgraded on Wednesday, after an autopsy conducted Tuesday resulted in the death being ruled a homicide. Kyle Kiernan remains lodged at MCCI pending future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.

This case has been assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin J. Sidley of the Major Crimes Bureau. Anyone with more information is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Matthew Delgado at 800-533-7443 or Middletown Police Detective Daniel Sullivan at 732-615-2100.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office