New Jersey man arrested for arson attack against girlfriend, leaving her for dead in Pine Barrens wilderness

36-year-old Justin D. Martin is facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated arson in connection with the October 15 attack in the Colliers Mills area of Plumsted Township. Despite her injuries, the victim was able to locate a worker in the woods and plead for help. She told him that her boyfriend had tried to kill her and burn her before fleeing the scene.

The woman had been left in the Pine Barrens, a vast wilderness in southern New Jersey that is associated with the legend of the mythical Jersey Devil.

Emergency responders arrived and found the woman conscious but suffering from burn injuries and smoke inhalation. She was intubated and taken to Temple University Burn Center in Philadelphia, where she was listed in stable condition.

The victim’s mother told investigators that Martin had previously been verbally abusive toward her daughter and would throw objects at her. She also suggested that Martin had previously abandoned her daughter at Freehold Raceway Mall. During the earlier incident, a stranger helped the woman travel to her mother’s home, according to the New York Post.

The victim had visited her mother’s home on the morning of the attack and collected campaign supplies but did not disclose where she was going. Hours later, Martin called the woman’s mother and claimed that the couple had argued and left their campsite. The mother did not hear from her daughter until emergency responders later informed her that the woman had been severely injured.

Martin’s vehicle was tracked, and he was located with another man and a woman inside the vehicle. The other man had said he was sleeping in the car all day and did not know the attack occurred. He was also uncooperative with police.

Martin refused to answer questions and was subsequently arrested.