A Monmouth County man was arrested on Saturday after he got into a fight with his father, who died the following the day, authorities said.
Officers from the Middletown Police Department were called to a Pine Street home around 6:30 p.m. Monday for a report of domestic violence, according to a release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police found 36-year-old township resident Kyle Kiernan and his father 62-year-old Lawrence Kiernan, who was suffering from undisclosed injuries, but refused medical treatment, the office said. Kyle Kiernan was arrested, charged with simple assault and was taken to the Monmouth County jail.
Around 3 a.m. the next day, police were called back to the home for a medical emergency and found Lawrence Kiernan unresponsive, investigators said. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he died shortly before noon the same day.
An autopsy determined the injuries Lawrence Kiernan sustained during the fight with his son caused his death, and the charges against Kyle Kiernan were upgraded on Wednesday, authorities said.
Kyle Kiernan is now facing a charge of second-degree reckless manslaughter, officials said. As of Thursday afternoon, he was still being held in jail pending future court proceedings.
Attorney information for the younger Kiernan was not immediately available.
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
