Photos of Natalie Greene's body taken at the hospital.
An Ocean City woman is charged with lying about a violent attack at the Nature Reserve in Egg Harbor Township this summer.
Natalie Greene, 26, was found lying in a wooded area just off the trail with her hands and feet bound by zip ties, her shirt pulled over her head and lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest and shoulder.
She and an unnamed co-conspirator from Ventnor told police that they were attacked by three men while walking the trail at the reserve on Zion Road.
They called Greene by name and referenced her employment.
"They were talking about politics," the unnamed co-conspirator told police in a 911 call. "She works for [Federal Official 1]. They were like calling her like racist, calling her a whore ..."
While the complaint does not name Greene's then-employer, BreakingAC has confirmed it was Congressman Jeff Van Drew, where she was listed as a constituent advocate director.
“We are deeply saddened by today’s news, and while Natalie is no longer associated with the congressman’s government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her," read a statement sent to BreakingAC. "We hope she’s getting the care she needs.”
The words “TRUMP WHORE” were written on her stomach and “[Federal Official 1] IS RACIST” were written on her back, the complaint states. Greene was crying and yelling that one of her alleged attackers had a gun.
But an investigation found that Greene had paid a body modification/scarification artist to deliberately cut the lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest and shoulder, based on a pattern that she had provided beforehand.
Greene allegedly paid a body modification artist to re-create the photo on the left.The artist at an unnamed Pennsylvania tattoo shop told investigators that Greene came there with $500 cash the day of the alleged attack, and had a receipt with a time stamp of 6:09 p.m.
Greene allegedly drove her Maserati SUV from Pennsylvania to the co-conspirator in Ventnor, then to Dunkin Donuts in Atlantic City before heading to the reserve in Egg Harbor Township.
Two days earlier, the unnamed co-conspirator used her cell phone to search for “zip ties near me.”
Video surveillance shows her making a purchase at the Dollar General in Ventnor that has zip ties matching those used on Greene and two found in the Maserati by police investigating the scene that night.
BreakingAC reported news of an investigation in July, saying that police were not able to release a lot of details as the investigation was ongoing.
"As the safety and well-being of our community members who enjoy the Nature Reserve are our top priorities, please know there is no active or ongoing threat to the public," Police Chief Fred Spano said at the time. "This incident appears to be an isolated incident."
Several commenters were upset at the time, questioning how police could say the public was safe.
That answer seems to have come with Greene's arrest.
She had her first appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in Camden. Greene was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond and additional conditions, as set by the court.
Greene's attorney, Lou Barbone, told BreakingAC that he cannot comment at this time.
Federal inmate's mugshots are not public record.
Greene as she was found by police responding to the Nature Reserve on July 23, 2025.The count of conspiracy has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of three years of supervised release. The count of false statements also has a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba credited the following law enforcement agencies with the investigation: special agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; detectives with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds; officers and detectives with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Spano; officers with the New Jersey State Police; and special agents with the Capitol Police.
