A Keansburg man is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of a 32-year-old Seaside Heights woman who was found critically injured and later died following a violent domestic incident.
Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced that Emiliano Davila, 41, was formally charged on Jan. 28 in connection with the death of Mary O’Connor, 32, of Seaside Heights.
Police say O’Connor was brought to Community Medical Center in Toms River on Nov. 3, 2025, suffering from severe head injuries. Officers were called to the hospital after staff reported a woman with blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators said O’Connor had been dropped off by two men who then left the area.
Hospital staff found O’Connor unresponsive with a brain bleed. Authorities said she also showed visible bruising consistent with strangulation.
An investigation by county and local police determined that Davila was one of the individuals who brought O’Connor to the hospital. Investigators also learned that Davila and O’Connor had been dating and that O’Connor had been assaulted the night before at a motel in Seaside Heights where she had been staying.
Davila was taken into custody later that day and initially charged in connection with the assault.
O’Connor died from her injuries on Nov. 5, 2025, two days after being brought to the hospital.
A post-mortem examination later determined that her death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head, which resulted in a subdural hematoma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Following those findings, the case was upgraded to a murder charge. Davila remains in custody as the case proceeds.
