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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…
Guatemalan Man Who Kidnapped NJ Girl, 14, To Sexually Assault Her In Georgia Indicted: Feds
A Guatemalan man was accused of kidnapping a Cape May County teen and trying to sexually assault her in Georgia, authorities said.
Sergio Gomez, 22, was detained on Thursday, July 18, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He was federally indicted on Wednesday, July 17 for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and kidnapping.
According to the indictment, Gomez, also known as “Abner Abigail Chub-Choc,” used the internet and a cellphone to entice the 14-year-old girl to have sex …
Fugitive Who Committed Atlantic City Home Invasion, Kidnapping Sentenced: Prosecutors
An Atlantic City man will spend more than 15 years in prison after admitting to a home invasion, forcing a victim at gunpoint to withdraw money from an ATM, authorities said.
Glen Graves, 33, was sentenced on Thursday, July 11 to 18 years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Tuesday, July 16. He pleaded guilty on Monday, May 20 to first-degree kidnapping, second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight.
Investigators said Graves forced his way into an Atlantic City apartment w…
NJ Restaurant Owner Preyed On Job Applicant, Sexually Assaulted Others, Authorities Say
The owner of three restaurants in Trenton has been arrested for multiple sexual assaults including a job applicant, authorities said.
Gerald Araya, 44, of Ewing, was arrested in Trenton on Wednesday, June 19, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri, Lawrence Township Police Chief Christopher Longo and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.
He is charged with five counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, two counts o…
Kidnappers Who Demanded $680,000 Ransom For Fort Lee Man Get Up To 18 Years Without Release
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Four men who kidnapped a Fort Lee man from his home and held him for a $680,000 ransom must serve from 12 to 18 years in federal prison before they'll be eligible for release.
The harshest plea-bargained sentence went to Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, who must serve nearly 18 years of a 250-month prison sentence before he'll be eligible for release, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Next was fellow Queens resident Chiahao Lee, 32, who must serve nearly 13 years of a 180-month stretch, the U.S. attorney said.
They're followed by Gabriel Anthony, also of Queens, Sellinger…
Ax-Wielding Man Who Forced Ex-GF Into Sex Heads To NJ State Slammer, Prosecutor Says
A hatchet-wielding 50-year-old man who forced an ex-girlfriend to have sex was sentenced to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison, authorities said.
Julio Sigurani, Jr., of Deerfield, was sentenced on Monday, May 13, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-Mcrae. Sigurani was convicted at a trial of sexual assault and kidnapping, Webb-McRae said.
The charges stemmed from a sexual assault that occurred on Aug. 13, 2020, in Deerfield. The defendant and victim had previously been in a relationship, the prosecutor said.
Shortly after midnight, Sigurani entered the victi…
Man Accused Of Trying To Abduct Girl In South Jersey Crime Spree To Remain In Jail
A Monmouth County man will remain in jail after he was accused of trying to kidnap a teen girl and groping a woman in a Target parking lot during a two-county crime spree, authorities said.
Quamel Benton, 35, of Farmingdale, was ordered by a judge on Wednesday, Apr. 10 to remain in Burlington County Jail through his trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged in Ocean County with attempted kidnapping, luring, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact, two counts of eluding, resisting arrest, and obstruction.
L…
Gotcha! Here's How FBI Says It Nabbed Paterson Kidnappers
A Paterson resident who'd just been kidnapped was being shown a photo array of suspects when he suddenly pointed at one of the pictures.
The man in the photo, Joel Ramon Garcia, 33, of Paterson, and an accomplice had held him at gunpoint last month during a six-hour car ride to Massachusetts, while demanding a ransom from his father, before releasing the victim two days later, the FBI said.
Federal agents quickly captured both Garcia and Julio Cesar Paniagua, 27, at the same time.
Credit the victim's assistance and some sound detective work.
It began on Nov. 15, when the victim's father c…
South Jersey Man Guilty Of Sexual Assault On Ex-GF, Threatening Her With A Hatchet: Prosecutor
A 50-year-old man from South Jersey has been found guilty of sexual assault on an ex-girlfriend whom he held captive with a hatchet, authorities said.
Julio Sigurani, Jr., of the Rosenhayn section of Deerfield Township, was convicted on Tuesday, Sept. 19, on eight counts including sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, terroristic threats and weapons offenses, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.
The charges stem from a sexual assault that occurred on Aug. 13, 2020, in Deerfield.
Sigurani and the victim had previously been in a relationship, the prosecuto…
Cold CASE: NJ Pastor Nabbed For Homicide Of 8-Year-Old Gretchen Harrington
Nearly 50 years after 8-year-old Gretchen Harrington was found dead in a Pennsylvania forest, police say they've arrested the man who killed her.
David Zandstra, now 83 years old, originally a pastor from New Jersey but most recently of Marietta, Georgia, is charged with criminal homicide, kidnapping a minor, and related counts, said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer's Office in a release on Monday, July 24.
“The murder of Gretchen Harrington has haunted members of law enforcement since that terrible day in August 1975," the DA said.
"The families of victims often say that their live…
Mercer County Man Charged In Home Invasion, Sexual Assault: Middlesex Prosecutor
A Mercer County man has been charged with attempted murder in a home invasion, authorities said.
Justin Surofsky, 26, of Hightstown was arrested in East Windsor without incident and charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, first- degree Criminal Attempt-Murder, second-degree Burglary, third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, second-degree Kidnapping, third-degree Criminal Restraint, second-degree Aggravated Assault, and first-degree Robbery, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone.
On Thursday, July …
Man Convicted Of Murder In Armed Home Invasion In Atlantic City: Prosecutor
A 27-year-old man from South Jersey has been found guilty of murder in an armed home invasion robbery, authorities said.
An Atlantic County jury convicted Oshshakkur Derrick, of Somers Point, on Tuesday, June 27, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Derrick was convicted of murder, assault, armed robbery, kidnapping and other offenses, they said.
The conviction stems from a Nov. 22, 2020 home invasion on the 100 block of N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Atlantic City.
The jury found that Derrick, and another unidentified male, broke into the house in an atte…
