Four people, including a Lakewood woman, have been charged with hindering the apprehension of a Toms River man wanted in connection with a murder earlier this month, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.

Ronald Hagan, 50, of Brick Township; Sylvester Green, 43, of Bayville; Cherice Nicholson, 46, of Howell; and Jennifer Rizalvo, 48, of Lakewood, were each charged with Hindering the Apprehension of Another in connection with the search for Douglas Cobb, 51, of Toms River.

Cobb is charged with the murder of Bruce Gress, 42, of Toms River, who was killed on September 18 in Toms River.

During the investigation into Cobb’s whereabouts, detectives determined that Hagan, Green, Nicholson and Rizalvo each assisted Cobb in avoiding apprehension and/or provided false information to law enforcement, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Hagan remains a fugitive, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. His name has been entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

Green and Nicholson were taken into custody on September 24 and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they remain pending detention hearings. Rizalvo was served with the charge on a summons and is expected to appear in Ocean County Superior Court.

“These arrests send a powerful message that anyone who intentionally aids Douglas Cobb evade law enforcement will be held accountable and face consequences for their unlawful actions,” Prosecutor Billhimer said. “We are working round-the-clock to apprehend Cobb so that he may be brought to justice for the killing of Bruce Gress.”

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said a recently released image of Cobb was taken from police body-worn camera footage recorded in June.

The investigation involves the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

The charges against the four defendants are accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.