Authorities: Ocean City man admitted to killing his mother
OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of his 74-year-old mother Friday.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Ocean City Police Chief William Campell announced the arrest of Jeffrey Surgent, 46, in the slaying.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the court:
Just before 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, Ocean City police dispatch received a 911 call from a subject who identified himself as Jeff Surgent living at 308 Sixth St. Surgent stated to the dispatcher that he is bipolar and had just killed his mother.
Patrol units were dispatched to the Ocean City Housing Authority property and arrived to find the subject, positively identified as Surgent, nude in the hallway, lying on top of a headless body. The head was located several feet away in the same hallway.
Patrol placed Surgent in handcuffs and the apartment was cleared for safety.
Surgent was removed from the hall, during which time he screamed over and over that he had killed his mother and was sorry. He then began to sing “Jesus Loves Me.”
The victim was identified as Surgent’s mother, Alexandri M. Surgent of Central Avenue in Ocean City.
While removing Surgent from the scene, he was observed to be covered in blood. Surveillance of the incident was obtained from the OCHA. Initially, a head is seen exiting the apartment at a high rate of speed. The head hits the wall and rolls to where it was found.
A short time later, Surgent is seen peeking out from the apartment, then pulling his mother’s body into the hallway. He is nude and proceeds to lay on top of her until patrol arrives.
Surgent was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was being held at a secure medical facility.
The case is being investigated by the Ocean City Police Department Detective Bureau, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the New Jersey Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
