19-Year-Old Pleads Guilty After Woman Stabbed in Jackson, NJ

Toms River, N.J. — A 19-year-old Monmouth County man has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after authorities said he stabbed a woman in the abdomen while her 19-month-old baby lay nearby.

Jaden Thompson of Freehold entered his plea in Ocean County Court on August 31st.

At sentencing on October 23rd, the State will seek 10 years in prison for an attempted murder charge under the No Early Release Act, plus concurrent five-year terms for endangering the welfare of a child and eluding.

Stabbing at the Paragon Apartments

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said on November 27th of last year, Jackson Township Police responded to the Paragon Apartments on Larsen Road for a report of a stabbing.

There, officers found a woman with a stab wound to her abdomen and a 19-month-old infant lying in the same area where the attack occurred; the baby was not injured.

The woman was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was treated and released.

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Investigators identified Thompson as the attacker, who had fled in a black Hyundai Sonata. The following day, Edison Township Police spotted his vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. He sped off recklessly before crashing the car. Thompson fled on foot but was taken into custody nearby.

He has been held at the Ocean County Jail since November 29, 2025.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com