By: Richard L. Smith
A New York woman has been charged with arson in connection with a late-night hotel fire in Ocean County, authorities announced.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that on January 28, 2026, Constance Koeper, 34, of Elmsford, New York, was charged with third-degree arson stemming from an incident that occurred earlier that same night in Toms River Township.
According to investigators, at approximately 11:23 p.m., first responders from the Toms River Police Department and the Toms River Fire Department were dispatched to the Avon Hotel after a fire alarm was activated.
Upon arrival, responders observed smoke conditions inside the building.
A joint investigation later determined that the fire originated inside a room located in the southeast corner of the hotel.
Authorities concluded the fire was intentionally set, caused by an open flame applied to available combustible materials.
The investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Arson Squad, the Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau and Fire Prevention Bureau, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
As the investigation progressed, Koeper was identified as the individual responsible for starting the fire.
She was subsequently charged with one count of third-degree arson. Additional details regarding injuries or damage were not released.
Prosecutor Billhimer credited the coordinated efforts of local and county law enforcement and fire investigators for bringing the case to a charge.
The case remains pending in Ocean County Superior Court.