Ventnor Man Dies From Brutal Beating, Son Charged

Days after being brutally beaten in his home, a Ventnor man has died from his injuries. His son, who is accused of beating his father, remains in the Atlantic County jail.

Ventnor Police were called to a N. Derby Avenue home about 11am Sunday, Feb.7, where they found 60-year-old Michael Nelson with serious injuries caused by a beating to his head and body.

An investigation determined that Nelson’s son, 30-year-old Thomas Nelson, had attacked his father. The younger Nelson was arrested and is being held in the Atlantic County Jail on $50,000 bail.

Police were responding to a 911 call from the home made by the younger Nelson. In a transcript of that call obtained by the Press of Atlantic City, Thomas Nelson tells a dispatcher his father has stopped breathing. ““Dad, wake up!" he screams repeatedly. "My dad's not breathing...I’m giving him mouth to mouth...he’s got blood coming out of all his orifices,” he says.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that visits by police to the Nelson's Ventnor home have been a frequent occurrence. Police have responded to the residence 29 times with four domestic violence calls since 2011.

Thomas Nelson has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2010, including charges of burglary, shoplifting and heroin possession.

Nelson remains jailed for aggravated assault and criminal mischief, although those charges are expected to be upgraded at some point.