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Police & Fire
Authorities: South Jersey Woman Was Driving Over 100 MPH In Fatal Head-On Crash Authorities: South Jersey Woman Was Driving Over 100 MPH In Fatal Head-On Crash
Authorities: South Jersey Woman Was Driving Over 100 MPH In Fatal Head-On Crash A 24-year-old Pleasantville driver who was going more than 100 miles per hour in a school zone when she struck another car head-on killing the driver in 2018 has been arrested, authorities said. Kaitlyn Hayes was arrested on June 10 and charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide in a school zone, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said Thursday. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of refraining from driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Very simply, if you drive while impaired, it is more likely that someone will be injured or killed. The risk…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Charges Upgraded In Unlicensed Hit-Run Crash That Killed Woman Outside AC Charges Upgraded In Unlicensed Hit-Run Crash That Killed Woman Outside AC
Charges Upgraded In Unlicensed Hit-Run Crash That Killed Woman Outside AC Authorities upgraded charges against an unlicensed driver who they said fled a crash that killed a 48-year-old woman outside Atlantic City earlier this week. Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said his office charged Keneet Camacho, 38, of Absecon with aggravated manslaughter for the death of local resident Janel Bembry in the three-vehicle crash Monday on Wrangleboro Road. They also charged the Peruvian national with assault by auto for seriously injuring another driver, the prosecutor said. Detectives served Camacho with the upgraded charges at the Atlantic County Justice Facility…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'Giving You Corona, Hope You Die': Imprisoned Female Killer Charged With Assaulting Officers 'Giving You Corona, Hope You Die': Imprisoned Female Killer Charged With Assaulting Officers
'Giving You Corona, Hope You Die': Imprisoned Female Killer Charged With Assaulting Officers A state prisoner serving a 15-year sentence for stabbing a Camden woman to death tried to cough and spit on correctional police officers, telling them, “I’m going to give you corona and I hope you die,” authorities said. Lettie “Shay” Carstarphen, 29, “intentionally and forcefully coughed and tried to spit at correction officers” while in a clinic at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Tuesday. Carstarphen stabbed and killed a 29-year-old woman during an Oct. 1, 2010 fight on Line Street in Camden, records show. She…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Newark Man Charged In Beating Death Of 60-Year-Old City Resident Newark Man Charged In Beating Death Of 60-Year-Old City Resident
Newark Man Charged In Beating Death Of 60-Year-Old City Resident A 31-year-old Newark man was charged in the beating death of a 60-year-old city resident, authorities said. Eddie Feliciano was assaulted on the 300 block of West Market Street around 8:45 p.m. March 25, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said Friday. He died of his injuries on April 8 at University Hospital, Ambrose and Stephens said. Leonard J. Melvin was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter Thursday, they said. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call the Essex County Prosecut…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Toms River Teen Admits Killing Mom In Front Of Younger Brother Toms River Teen Admits Killing Mom In Front Of Younger Brother
Toms River Teen Admits Killing Mom In Front Of Younger Brother UPDATE: A Toms River man admitted Friday that he killed his mother in front of his younger brother late last summer. Edgar Diaz, 18, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in Superior Court in Toms River in exchange for a 20-year prison term at a scheduled March 6 sentencing. He'll have to serve 17 years of that sentence before he'll be eligible for parole under New Jersey's No Early Release Act. Diaz stabbed Margarita Diaz with a knife and slammed her head into the pavement outside their parked vehicle in a medical office park last Aug. 7, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter
Beaten Infant Twin Dies At Hackensack UMC, Charges Against Dad Upped To Aggravated Manslaughter YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office upgraded charges early Friday against the father of beaten 7-week-old twins after one of them died at Hackensack University Medical Center. Aggravated manslaughter charges were filed against Jonathan Melendez, 27, who was already being held in the Bergen County Jail on aggravated assault and endangerment charges following his arrest last week. Investigators seized him after the infants' mother brought them to HUMC on Oct. 23, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The twins, who'd been in the father's custody in Teanec…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Newark Man Gets 25 Years For Killing Driver Who Rear-Ended Him Newark Man Gets 25 Years For Killing Driver Who Rear-Ended Him
Newark Man Gets 25 Years For Killing Driver Who Rear-Ended Him A Newark man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after admitting in August he shot and killed a driver who rear-ended him last year, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. Jerome Bearfield, 28, was hit from behind while driving home from his mother's birthday party May 5, 2018. Bearfield got out of his vehicle with a .38 revolver and fatally shot the other driver, 51-year-old Basil Howard of East Orange. Bearfield, who did not have a license for the gun, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon.  “Mr. Howard is another innocent vict…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
50-Year Sentence For Killer Who Shot Newark Man In the Back 50-Year Sentence For Killer Who Shot Newark Man In the Back
50-Year Sentence For Killer Who Shot Newark Man In the Back A 32-year-old Newark man was sentenced to a half-century in prison aggravated manslaughter and other charges stemming from a deadly shooting in 2017, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. Alrahsim Charles killed Rajaee Montgomery, 22, on May 27, 2017 in Newark. Montgomery was shot in the back as he was fleeing from gunfire.  Chambers was found guilty of weapons offenses in addition to manslaughter in June.  In arguing for an extended sentence, prosecutors pointed to Charles; extensive criminal history, which included a 2008 conviction for assault, a 2012 conviction fo…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Shooter Shook Hands With His Victim Before Killing Him In Newark Shooter Shook Hands With His Victim Before Killing Him In Newark
Shooter Shook Hands With His Victim Before Killing Him In Newark A Newark man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of another city man outside an illegal gambling parlor two years ago, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.  Robert Steele, 27, and 28-year-old Hydee Wryce were both placing bets at the parlor, in the 100 block of Littleton Avenue,  on the morning of Oct. 29, 2017.  Wryce was inside his vehicle, which was parked in front of the parlor, when Steele went to his car parked nearby, got a gun, and put it in the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt.  Steele approached the passenger side of Wrcy…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Elizabeth Man Charged In Fatal Bar Fight Elizabeth Man Charged In Fatal Bar Fight
Elizabeth Man Charged In Fatal Bar Fight A 28-year-old Elizabeth man faces a charge of aggravated manslaughter in the killing of another city man over the summer, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.  Police were called to Ben's Bar on Meadow Street around 2 a.m. on a report of a fight. Police found an injured Oscar Melara, 28, who was rushed to Trinitas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.  Laquan McCall, 28, was identified as a suspect and arrested Friday. He was being held in the Union County jail.  Anyone with information about Melara’s death is urged to contact Sgt. Johnny Ho at 908-403-…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Newark Man Charged With Manslaughter In Crash That Killed Correctional Officer Newark Man Charged With Manslaughter In Crash That Killed Correctional Officer
Newark Man Charged With Manslaughter In Crash That Killed Correctional Officer A 24-year-old Newark man has been charged with aggravated manslaughter for causing a fatal crash Saturday while fleeing from police, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.  Police in Hillside attempted to pull over a Nissan Altima driven by Dashawn Walton around 2:30 a.m. According to authorities, Walton fled the wrong way down Aldine Street and into Newark. He crashed into a Ford Mustang at Bragaw Avenue, pushing it into a light pole, according to authorities.  Omar Martin, who was in the Mustang and was not involved in the pursuit, was killed. The 49-year-old Newark resident…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Newark Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Driver Over Fender-Bender Newark Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Driver Over Fender-Bender
Newark Man Pleads Guilty To Killing Driver Over Fender-Bender A Newark man faces up to 25 years in prison after admitting he shot and killed a driver who rear-ended him last year, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.  Jerome Bearfield, 28, was hit from behind while driving May 5, 2018. Bearfield got out of his vehicle with a .38 revolver and fatally shot the other driver, 50-year-old Basil Howard of East Orange.  Bearfield, who did not have a license for the gun, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon. His sentencing is scheduled for October.  “Mr. Howard is another innocent victim of…

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by Paul Milo