It is nearly one year since a Neptune City man was found shot dead in his car on
Route 18 in Colts Neck and authorities from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and
the Colts Neck Police Department are still asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.
On April 29, 2018, Colts Neck police received a 911 call asking for assistance on Route 18,
south of Route 537. When officers at the scene they located a motor vehicle crash involving a 2009 Mercedes Benz C350.
An investigation revealed the driver Earl Sanders, 54, also known as “Everlasting,” of Neptune City, and a passenger were driving south on Route 18 when an unknown assailant or assailants pulled next to Sanders’ vehicle and fired numerous shots, striking Sanders several times.
Sanders lost control of the vehicle and struck a guardrail near the Route 537 exit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the prosecutor.
A 52-year-old passenger in Sanders’ vehicle was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Gramiccioni said the two men were traveling home from a birthday party at an Elks Club in Freehold Borough earlier that evening.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Ryan Mahony at 1-800-533-7443 or Colts Neck Detective Rich Zarrillo at 732-780-7323.
Individuals who feel the need to remain anonymous, but who may have information, may contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers’ confidential telephone tip line by calling 1-800-671-4400; or they may text MONMOUTH plus their tip to 274637; or they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any suspect in the murder of Earl Sanders, according to the prosecutor.
