Stephanie Parze: One-time boyfriend of missing Freehold woman found dead

Show Caption Hide Caption Robert Honecker, John Ozbilgen's attorney gives a statement on the death of his client John Ozbilgen, a one-time boyfriend of the missing 25-year-old Stephanie Parze, was found dead in his home on Friday morning, authorities said.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - John D. Ozbilgen, whom authorities named as a person of interest in the disappearance of 25-year-old Stephanie Parze, killed himself at his home early Friday, his lawyer said.

"I am sad to report to you that my client took his life early this morning," Robert Honecker, Ozbilgen's attorney, told reporters after meeting with the family. "His family is emotionally distraught and heartbroken over the fact their son has taken his life. They found him in his house this morning and immediately notified authorities that he was dead."

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said a medical examiner determined the cause and manner of the death was a suicide by hanging.

Ozbilgen, 29, was released Tuesday after 11 days in the Monmouth County jail where he was being held on one count of child pornography. Honecker said again Friday that Ozbilgen adamantly denied he had anything to do with the child pornography charge against him. Watch Honecker speak in the video at the top of this story.

During his detention hearing on that charge, prosecutors said Ozbilgen, whom they described as Parze's on-again, off-again boyfriend, was a person of interest in her disappearance. Parze was last seen by her family on Oct. 30.

Prosecutors also revealed that the day before Parze vanished, Ozbilgen had sent her a series of 10 unanswered texts in nine minutes, ending with a expletive-laden complaint.

"We do not believe his death was suspicious at this time," the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. "Ozbilgen was recently released from jail after being charged with possession of child pornography. Investigation remains active more to follow."

Honecker said he had no comment when asked about what Ozbilgen may or may not have known about Parze's disappearance.

On Friday afternoon, about a block of Kings Mountain Road in Freehold Township was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Freehold Township police vehicles and unmarked police SUVs were parked at the scene.

Parze's family declined to speak about Ozbilgen's death. Parze's mother, Sharlene, when reached by phone Friday, quickly replied, "I have no comment about it."

A group of about four onlookers were in tears as they watched the situation unfold, but would not comment on the incident.

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There's been a police presence at the house for the last month, according to Mark Herskowitz, a nearby resident.

Herskowitz said he is "absolutely surprised" this happened in this neighborhood and described the area as "wonderful, quiet, and family friendly."

Authorities from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold Police Department are here. pic.twitter.com/0OE7r5eXZT — Keith Schubert (@keithsch94) November 22, 2019

Parze was last seen around 10 p.m. Oct. 30 after a trip to see a psychic medium in New Brunswick, according to her father, Edward Parze. She had planned on heading for her late grandmother's home in Freehold, where she had been living since 2018.

Freehold missing woman: Ex-boyfriend sent expletive-laced texts night before she vanished

To date Parze has not been found. Investigators have combed through a park in Staten Island, New York, and her family has organized volunteer searches in Monmouth County.

Ozbilgen has also been charged with simple assault for allegedly striking Parze on the head on Sept. 23, according to prosecutors.