The body of a man found inside a car that sank in a drainage basin in Manalapan, New Jersey, has been identified as Rice Masongo, a 45-year-old from Keyport. The vehicle, a 2014 Ford Focus, was discovered submerged in a retention pond in the Four Seasons gated community on April 26, 2025. Authorities have been working to understand the circumstances surrounding the car’s presence in the water, but at this point, they do not believe foul play was involved.

Discovery of the Vehicle

The car was reported by a neighbor who noticed a car trunk and tire sticking out of the water near the end of Comtois Road. Upon investigation, local police discovered the black Ford Focus in the basin, its rear window broken, and muddy tire tracks nearby. In addition to the vehicle, officers found a pair of boat shoes inside the trunk, which led to further suspicion that the car had been in the water for some time.

Authorities immediately launched a search and recovery operation. The car was carefully removed from the retention basin, and after processing the scene, it was confirmed that the body inside the vehicle was that of Rice Masongo, the registered owner of the car.

Who Was Rice Masongo?

Rice Masongo, who was 45 years old at the time of his death, was a resident of Keyport, NJ. His last known contact with friends or family was on April 8, 2025, and his disappearance had remained a mystery until the discovery of his vehicle. Investigators have urged anyone with information about his whereabouts or anyone who may have seen Masongo in the weeks leading up to the discovery of the car to come forward.

Investigations and Search for Answers

The Manalapan Police Department, in collaboration with other local authorities, is actively investigating the incident. While investigators are not ruling out any possibilities, they have indicated that there is no initial evidence suggesting foul play. The exact circumstances that led to the car being in the retention basin remain unclear.

Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have had contact with Masongo between April 8 and April 26, or anyone who might have surveillance footage of the area or the vehicle itself during that period. The Four Seasons gated community, where the car was found, has a number of security cameras that may hold valuable information. Investigators are working with residents and community security teams to gather any relevant footage that may shed light on the case.

“We are looking for any help from the community,” said a spokesperson for the Manalapan Police Department. “We are still piecing together the timeline, and any information could be crucial to understanding what happened.”

A Plea for Information

As the investigation continues, authorities are asking anyone who may have seen or interacted with Masongo or who might have noticed anything unusual in the Four Seasons area between early April and late April to contact the Manalapan Police Department. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and investigators are encouraging residents to review any home surveillance footage they may have from the relevant timeframe.

For more information or to report tips, you can visit the Manalapan Police Department website.

Conclusion

The discovery of Rice Masongo’s body in the car submerged in the drainage basin has left many unanswered questions. While investigators are continuing to work on the case, the community remains hopeful that further information will surface to clarify how the vehicle ended up in the retention pond. As of now, authorities are treating the incident as a tragic mystery and are encouraging the public’s assistance in resolving it