Prosecutor: Investigation Into Hit and Run Death Is Ongoing, Additional Charges Are Possible

Toni Ann Marletta, photo via facebook

A “robust and aggressive” investigation into the hit and run death of 15 year old Marissa Procopio is ongoing. It is possible that additional charges…assault by auto or vehicular homicide…could be filed against Toni Ann Marletta, said Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni in an interview with MoreMonmouthMusings last week.

Marletta has been incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since July 15 after being charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident, Failing to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident, No Insurance, Unsafe Tires and Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident July 6th incident on Route 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township which resulted in the death of Procopio. Her bail is $150,000 with no 10% option.

The Middletown Police Department identified Marletta as the driver of the vehicle that struck Procopio and fled the scene within hours of the incident.

“There was no indication that she was a flight risk,” Gramiccioni said when explaining the week between the incident and Marletta’s arrest. “She has substantial ties to the community. It is not so easy to get on a plane and fly off to another country.”

“Nothing untoward was going on,” Gramiccioni said in response to social media posts questioning why Marletta had not been arrested. “We investigate all crimes in a robust and aggressive fashion with the intention of bringing the most serious charges we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. During that week we were interviewing witnesses and subpoenaing documents.”

“We don’t prosecute in a ‘ready, fire, aim’ fashion. We bring charges that we are confident will result in a conviction.”

Anyone who has information regarding the collision or the aftermath of the incident, is urged to contact Corporal Thomas Russo of the Middletown Police Department at 732-615-2100, or Detective Eric Kerecman of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.