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Hitchhiker's 50-Year-Cold Case Cracked By NJ College's Genealogy Center
After nearly five decades without answers, the 1974 murder of Mary Schlais has been solved, thanks to groundbreaking work by the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center in Mahwah, NJ.
On Nov. 7, 2024, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Jon Miller, 84, of Owatonna, MN, in connection with Schlais’s death.
Schlais, then 25, was hitchhiking from Minneapolis to Chicago when she was killed. Her body was found with multiple stab wounds along a road in Dunn County, WI, on Feb. 15, 1974.
At the scene, investigators collected a stocking cap t…
Fifth Suspect Captured In NJ Detective's Home Invasion Killing, Prosecutors Say
A fifth person has been arrested in the violent home invasion that killed a Cumberland County detective, authorities said.
Byron Thomas of Paulsboro was charged with two counts of first-degree murder among other offenses, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Sgt. Monica Mosley, a detective sergeant with the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, was shot and killed in her Bridgeton home late at night on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland; Jarred Brown, 31, of Bridgeton; and Richard Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gl…
NJ Man Convicted Of Beating Mom To Death, Prosecutor Says
A 38-year-old Maplewood resident was convicted on Monday, Oct. 21 of murder charges in his mother's death, which he then framed as a suicide, authorities said.
Benjamin Avrut was found guilty of first-degree murder after beating his 70-year-old-mothe Gwen to death, Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said. The jury had rejected Avrut's insanity defense.
On Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, Avrut entered his sleeping mother's apartment at The Top, a luxury condominium in Maplewood, Stephens said. When she awoke, Avrut beat her to death with his fists, Stephens said.
Avrut, who had a hist…
Four Arrested In NJ Detective's Home Invasion Killing: 'Significant Step Toward Justice'
Four people have been charged for their roles in a violent home invasion that left a Cumberland County detective dead, authorities announced.
Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland; Jarred Brown, 31, of Bridgeton; and Richard Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gloucester City, were each charged with first-degree murder, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Monday, Oct. 28. Cyndia Pimentel, 38, of Paulsboro, was also facing charges in the case.
Sgt. Monica Mosley, a detective sergeant with the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, was shot and killed in her Brid…
Gruesome Indictment Details Killing, Dismemberment Of NJ Victim
Four people from Ocean County were indicted for dismembering the body of a Toms River killed in his home, authorities said.
A grand jury indicted 29-year-old Elizabeth Mascarelli of Seaside Heights on Thursday, Oct. 24 for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, hindering apprehension, desecration of human remains, and eight weapons charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release.
Danielle Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township; and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester, were also indicted for hindering apprehension an…
Homicide Roundup: Prosecutor Releases Names Of 14 Accused Killers In Summer NJ Murders
It's been a busy four months for the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force.
Fourteen suspects have been arrested in 12 Newark committed from Saturday, June 1 through Monday, Sept. 30, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, II and Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Frage said.
On Tuesday, June 4, Ty'Shon Young, a 27-year-old Newark resident was killed in a double shooting on the 200 block of South Orange Avenue, authorities said. An investigation by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force led to the arrest of Timothy Young, 34, for the murder, authorities said.…
Jersey City Gang Member Gets 19+ Years For Numerous Violent Crimes: Feds
A 35-year-old Jersey City resident and member of a gang was sentenced to 19.5 year in prison on Wednesday, Oct. 9 after previously pleading guilty to being involved in numerous violent crimes, authorities said.
Jervon Morris a.k.a. Sticky was in a gang that worked the Marion Gardens Housing Complex, distributing heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Members and associates of the gang also engaged in acts of violence, including numerous assaults, shootings, and murders, which targeted rival gang members and others, Sellinger said.
In 2011, Morris and others…
NY Man Kills Hotel Employee, Wounds Coworker In NJ: Prosecutor
A New York man has been arrested and charged in a double shooting at New Jersey at a Fairfield hotel last week, authorities announced.
Tyrone Malcolm, 39, of Middletown, NY, has been charged with murder in connection to the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Mohammed Sahariar, which also left his co-worker with critical injuries, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II and Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna.
Investigators say that shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, Sahariar and the second victim, who has not been identified, were working at …
New Details Released In Grisly Kitchen Floor Murder Of NJ Wife Seeking Divorce
New details are coming to light in the murder of a 40-year-old New Jersey mother in front of her kids, one of whom tried to save her, police papers show.
On Friday, Oct. 4, a Middlesex County Superior Court Judge ordered Wellington Leonardo, 45, jailed pending his trial in the stabbing death of his wife, Rosanna Rodriguez, on the kitchen floor of their Perth Amboy home, in front of their children, according to News12 and MyCenralJersey, and police papers obtained by Daily Voice.
Appearing over video link, Leonardo sobbed as the recording of the 911 call was played, News12 says. In the recor…
Orange Man Convicted In Fatal Shooting Outside ShopRite: Prosecutor
A 37-year-old man was convicted on Wednesday, Oct. 2, of fatally shooting a man outside a ShopRite supermarket in East Orange in 2022, authorities said.
On June 3, 2022, police in East Orange responded to the ShopRite supermarket on Main Street and found the body of Melja Oliver lying on the side of the building, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, II said.
It was later determined Oliver had died from a gunshot wound to his head and Darienne Murray was arrested five days later, Stephens said.
Murray had confronted Mejia, produced a handgun and shot him in the head, Stephens said. Th…
Philly Man, Two Brothers Indicted In Woman's Killing In Atlantic City: Prosecutors
Three Philadelphia men were indicted after two women were shot in the head in Atlantic City, including one who died, authorities said.
A grand jury indicted 34-year-old Gregg Page for murder, attempted murder, and several weapons charges on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. Two brothers, 30-year-old Ryan Schenck and 27-year-old Ramir Schenck, were also indicted for hindering apprehension.
Atlantic City police responded to a report of two women severely injured on North Main Avenue at around 4:41 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1. Officers found the vi…
Female Killer Resentenced In Double Murder Of Jersey City College Sweethearts
A 33-year-old woman was resentenced to 70 years in state prison on Monday, Sept. 16, for her role in the murder of two people in 2010.
Latonia Bellamy was convicted in 2021 of felony murder for the robbery and fatal shooting of Michael Muchioki, 27, and Nia Haqq, 25 on Randolph Avenue in Jersey City in April 2010, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
The two were killed outside their home around 3 a.m. on April 4, 2010, after coming home from their own engagement party, NJ.com reported, noting they were college sweethearts.
An appeals court upheld Bellamy's conviction b…
Killer Who Made Pit Stop At Cape May Wawa Gets Life In PA Coworker's Murder
A man described by authorities as a "violent predator" was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday, Sept. 9 for kidnapping, robbing, and killing a Pennsylvania co-worker, authorities announced.
Michael Allen Stark, 50, of Royersford, PA was found guilty by a Bucks County jury of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, flight to avoid apprehension, and abuse of a corpse, according to District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and court records.
Stark's victim was 50-year-old Matthew James Branning of Sellersville, who went missing after l…
Elizabeth Man Gets 25 Years For Bludgeoning Woman To Death: Authorities
A 34-year-old Elizabeth man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Friday, Sept. 6, after he bludgeoned a woman to death in 2022, authorities said.
On Sept. 11, 2022, at 2 a.m., police in Elizabeth found Carmen Lopez Barahona, a 30-year-old Elizabeth woman, dead after sustaining blunt force trauma to the head, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca, and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves said.
Gomez fled the scene and his vehicle was later located in Perth Amboy, where he was apprehended and transported back to Union County, authoriti…
18-Year-Old Killed Man, 22, In Central Jersey Shooting: Prosecutors
A Sayreville teen was accused of shooting and killing another man, authorities said.
Daniel Adediran, 18, was arrested in the case, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release on Friday, Aug. 30. Jeremiah Brown, 22, died in the shooting on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Sayreville police responded to a 911 call about the shooting on Swider Drive at around 9:49 p.m. Officers found Brown with a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Adediran knew Brown and the shooting wasn't a "random act of violence."
Adediran was …
Arrest Made In SoHo Slaying Of Popular Bayonne Sneaker Reseller 'Upscale Cracc'
Police have arrested and charged a New York man in the June murder of a popular Bayonne, NJ sneaker reseller who went by the name, Upscale Cracc, in Lower Manhattan.
Jayquan Straker, age 35, of Poughkeepsie, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon in the Tuesday, June 25 killing of Javier Osorio-Mejia, in SoHo, the NYPD announced.
Rest in peace to Upscale Cracc, born Javier Osorio-Mejia, a reseller who was a mainstay at sneaker releases in New York City for years. If there was a lineu…
