The man who jumped to his death off a New Jersey pier this week has now been named as the million dollar slots winner John Leatherman.
On Monday at around 5:50 p.m., Neptune and Bradley Beach police received a 911 call from a person who was concerned a man might be in trouble in the water near the Ocean Grove Fishing Pier.
Unfortunately, it now turns out the man had apparently hung himself with his then decapitated torso being recovered from the water a while later.
According to First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni, the man has now been named as John Leatherman, 43.
On December 31st, 2001, Leatherman had won a $1,018,861 slots jackpot at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. The Ocean Grove carpenter and his girlfriend were on vacation at the time and played the slot on the way to a dance club.
After putting just $20 into the machine, John Leatherman won the $1,018,861 jackpot and then decided to receive the money as annual payments of $50,943 over a twenty year period.
At the time it was reported that; “Leatherman said he will invest some of the money, help family and friends who have helped him, and donate some to charities.”
It is believed Leatherman bought his mother, Katherine, a Florida winter home with part of the money while continuing to live with his stepmother, Kathleen Leatherman, at Tinton Falls.
He also worked as a union carpenter in the local area and was described by his stepmother, Kathleen Leatherman in the following way:
“He was very smart, very focused. He had a good sense of humor and was a hard worker.”
The incident is currently being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, but the deputy first assistant Rick Incremona has commented that at this time “no foul play is suspected.”
