WILDWOOD – An investigation into approximately 25 burglaries throughout the city during the month of April led to additional charges being brought against an inmate currently housed in Cape May County Correctional Center on unrelated burglary charges.
According to police, members of the city’s uniformed patrol and detective divisions, in cooperation with the Cape May County Crime Scene Unit investigated the burglaries. As part of their investigation each scene was processed and photographed. Numerous fingerprints were identified and sent to the NJ State Police Identification Bureau.
“While processing the scenes, numerous pieces of evidence which possibly contained DNA were collected,” stated Det. Sgt. Kenneth Gallagher. “The evidence was sent to the NJ State Police Forensic Laboratory to be examined.”
In October, State Police contacted Wildwood police and advised there was a CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hit for the evidence submitted from the burglaries. The CODIS hit identified Jeremias Ortiz-Feliciano, 29, as the suspect in the burglaries.
Ortiz-Feliciano was found to be incarcerated in the county correctional center on unrelated burglary and theft charges, stated Gallagher.
City police contacted Judge Christopher Robertson and advised him of the investigation. On Dec. 6, Robertson issued a warrant complaint for Ortiz-Feliciano.
The suspect was charged with 23 counts of burglary; 17 counts of theft; 25 counts of criminal mischief; and two counts of criminal attempt burglary.
Bail was set at $50,000. Ortiz-Feliciano was served his copy of the complaints and remains in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of bail.
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