A 61-year-old New Jersey woman is facing manslaughter charges after allegedly pushing a 70-year-old man off a porch because he refused to get her an alcoholic drink, causing a devastating fall that ultimately claimed his life.
Lisa D. Jones, of Wildwood, was charged with second-degree manslaughter on November 5 following the death of Edward F. Evans, a longtime commercial fisherman and neighborhood handyman.
The Woman Pushes Man, 70, Off Porch After He Refuses to Get Her a Drink, Police Say
deadly confrontation unfolded October 6 outside Jones’ home on East Pine Avenue, where Evans had been sitting on a ledge along the front porch.
According to court documents, Jones became angry when Evans refused to get her an alcoholic beverage. Investigators allege she responded by pushing him off the ledge, sending him falling approximately six feet onto the concrete sidewalk below.
Witnesses told police that Jones shouted, “You didn’t see anything, you didn’t see anything,” before running back inside the house.
Evans suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in his brain. He was airlifted to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, where doctors fought to save his life.
Despite receiving medical treatment, Evans died from his injuries on October 31, nearly four weeks after the confrontation.
Investigators say Jones initially gave police a different account of what happened, claiming she had been inside cooking when Evans fell from the porch.
However, during a follow-up interview the next day, she allegedly admitted pushing him after he refused to get her a drink.
Jones was originally arrested October 7 on charges of aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim. After Evans died, prosecutors upgraded the case to second-degree manslaughter.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office announced the new charge on November 6, confirming that the fatal incident remained under investigation.
If convicted, Jones could face between five and 10 years in New Jersey state prison.
Authorities have not explained the nature of the relationship between Jones and Evans or disclosed whether the two had been arguing before the alleged confrontation over the drink.
Evans, meanwhile, is being remembered by friends and neighbors as a hardworking and generous man who spent much of his life helping others.
Born in Philadelphia, he worked as a commercial fisherman throughout Cape May County and became a familiar face in his Wildwood neighborhood, where residents regularly relied on him for repairs and odd jobs.
“Ed was an easygoing, fun-loving individual who was always available to help a friend or neighbor,” his obituary stated.
He was especially well known as the neighborhood handyman, someone people could count on whenever they needed assistance.
Evans is survived by his brother, Thomas F. Evans, his caretaker, Vallynne Couillard, and a close-knit community of friends and fellow fishermen.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for November 19 at the Church of St. Anne in Wildwood.
The case remains under investigation by the Wildwood Police Department and Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities.
Jones has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. For Evans’ loved ones, the case has brought a devastating end to the life of a man remembered for his kindness and willingness to help others, all following what investigators describe as a senseless dispute over a drink.
