Search Continues For Missing Freehold Woman Stephanie Parze After Ex-Boyfriend John Ozbilgen Found Dead Of Suicide
FREEHOLD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – The search effort to find a missing New Jersey woman continues one day after a person of interest in the case was found dead.
The Monmouth County prosecutor says Stephanie Parze's ex-boyfriend John Ozbilgen hanged himself at his parent's Freehold home Friday morning.
Ozbilgen had just been released from jail on Tuesday in connection with an unrelated child pornography case.
Parze was last seen on Oct. 30 after dropping her parents off at their house following a family night out.
Ozbilgen's death leaves many questions unanswered.
"It's just heartbreaking and everything 'cause now, if it was, we have no idea. We'll never know," said John Czeto, a friend of Parze's family.
Around 300 searchers combed through Manasquan River Linear Park Saturday, covering 150 acres, three weeks after the young woman disappeared.
Authorities say Parze had accused Ozbilgen of abuse during their months-long relationship.
"Gives you the feeling that if he were innocent he would've defended his name instead of taking the coward's way out," Nick Giallanza of Howell said.
Not wanting to talk about Ozbilgen or the status of the investigation is the missing woman's father, Ed.
He has been at every search and each time starts them off with a few words of thanks. Saturday's search was physically demanding.
Terrain for the effort was challenging with some of the volunteer searchers coming out with cuts and bruises.
"Some of the areas the thorns are three-feet high right up to your neck," Frank Ciulla said.
Investigators won't say if leading up to the suicide Ozbilgen wrote or said anything to help solve the case.
Searchers will return to wooded areas nearby on Tuesday, fearful the trail is getting colder and colder.
