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Ocean City man in jail as details emerge of mother's killing


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An Ocean City man who was hospitalized after telling police he killed his mother while suffering from mental illness is now in jail.

Jeffrey Surgent, 46, called 911 just before 4 p.m. Friday, stating that he was bipolar and had just killed his mother, authorities said.

Police arrived to the apartment complex at 308 Sixth St. to find Surgent nude in the hallway lying on top of the decapitated body, according to the affidavit obtained by BreakingAC.

Surgent was removed from the hallway, while screaming "over and over that he killed his mother and he was sorry," the affidavit states.

He then began singing, "Jesus Loves Me."

The body was positively identified as 74-year-old Alexandria Surgent, who lived in the 400 block of Central Avenue.

Jeffrey Surgent was taken to a secure medical facility under police watch.

He was transferred to the Cape May County Correctional Facility on Saturday. His mugshot shows him in a green vest, referred to as a suicide gown.

A detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 20.

(GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: The following includes details of the incident that may be upsetting to some readers. Discretion is advised.)

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The affidavit describes a horrific scene, where police found Surgent on top of his mother's body with her head several feet away in the same hallway.

Investigators obtained video surveillance from the Housing Authority, which oversees the apartment complex, that showed the scene from the north end of the hallway facing south.

Surgent is seen peeking out of his apartment after his mother's head is rolled into the hallway "at a high rate of speed," the affidavit states.

The naked man then drags out her body and lays on top of it until police arrive.

He was covered in blood.

author

Lynda Cohen

BreakingAC founder who previously worked in newspapers for more than two decades. She is an NJPA award-winner and was a Stories of Atlantic City fellow.

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