BURLEIGH – Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner announce the discovery of a body of a man, located in a vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot of a Burleigh business on Indian Trail Road.
On Nov. 8 at approximately 10:30 a.m., Middle Township Police responded to the parking lot of the business for the report of a man inside a Ford Pickup at that location. Upon arrival of police they discovered the deceased, later identified as Leonard Pantaleo, 50, from Middle Township inside the truck, obviously deceased. Pantaleo had been reported missing by family members the day before.
A joint investigation is presently under way by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Detective Unit of the Middle Township Police Department to determine the cause of Pantaleo’s death. A search of Pantaleo’s vehicle was conducted by investigators at the scene and several items that were consistent with a heroin overdose were discovered.
On Nov. 9, an autopsy was performed by the Southern Region Medical Examiner’s Office and the preliminary report indicates that there were no signs of foul play with the final autopsy report pending toxicology results.
Prosecutor Taylor and Chief Leusner urge anyone who has information concerning this case or any illegal activity to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, or the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700 or text TIP MTPDTIPS followed by your message to 888777 or text through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on the anonymous tip.
