PISCATAWAY, NJ—Authorities announced the arrest of a Piscataway man on charges that he killed a 31-year-old woman from Raritan Borough who “suffered severe injury to her head” after visiting his condominium.

The victim, Beth Bezek, was “found dead outside his home, the victim of apparent head injuries,” according to a press release issued by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO).

That home was located on Pond Lane, in Cedar Woods, a relatively new condominium development located off of Possumtown Road.

Bezek was pronounced dead at the scene, at approximately 1:33 a.m on November 1.

Christopher Koller, age 39, was arrested and charged with murder later that day.  According to property records, he does not own a condominium in the complex, but the MCPO says he lived there.

“During the investigation, it was determined that Ms. Bezek was visiting Koller at his home when she sustained what appears to be blunt force trauma to the head,” read the official MCPO statement.

The Piscataway Police Department (PPD) responded to the defendant’s condominium to find the victim “laying outside the home on Pond Lane at 1:04 a.m.”

Koller remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail, and is currently lodged at the Middlesex County Jail in North Brunswick.  Prosecutors will require anyone trying to bail Koller out to provide documentation for the source of the funds.

His attorney, Jacob Davidson, tried to argue for the bail to be lowered, according to a report by NJ.com’s Alex Napoliello.  But that effort was unsuccessful, as Assistant Prosecutor Scott LaMountain brought up his criminal record.

Koller apparently pled guilty to theft in relation to a scheme involving a chimney sweeping contract in Far Hills, and has also been charged with assault in Pennsylvania and New York. 

The results of an autopsy being conducted by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office were “not immediately available,” according to the MCPO.

The investigation is “active and… continuing,” according to authorities.  Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Reilly of the PPD at (732) 562-1100, or Detective Abromaitis of the MCPO at (732) 745-3300.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.