El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en enero 12, 2021, Thomas Hatchett, 88, del municipio de Manchester, was sentenced by the Honorable Michael T. collins, JSC, to ten years New Jersey State Prison as a result of a previously entered guilty plea to Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4. This sentence is subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, NJSA. 2C:43-7.2, meaning that Hatchett will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Hatchett pled guilty to the charge before Judge Collins on October 23, 2020.
En julio 1, 2019, Manchester Township Police Officers were summoned to a Manchester residence by a 911 call in reference to a male victim lying face down in the street in front of a residence. Officers found Igal Hedad, 71, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bleeding from his head with gunshot wounds to his back. Mr. Hedad was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team responded to assist. The SWAT Team made entry to the house and found it to be unoccupied. Investigation revealed that the resident of the home was Thomas Hatchett. Further investigation revealed that Hatchett had previously maintained an address in Verona, New Jersey. The Verona Police Department was contacted. Verona Police Officers located Hatchett and transported him to police headquarters. Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Manchester Township Police Department traveled to Verona where they interviewed Hatchett. It was thereafter determined that Hatchett was the individual responsible for Mr. Hedad’s death. Hatchett was subsequently arrested and charged without incident, y ha estado alojado en la cárcel del condado de Ocean desde la fecha de su arresto..
“Hatchett committed a brutal and senseless act on July 1, 2019. For all intents and purposes, given this defendant’s advanced age, the prison term imposed by Judge Collins is tantamount to a life sentence,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “Hatchett will most likely spend the balance of his remaining days exactly where he belongs – behind bars. Our hope is that this sentence affords the family of Mr. Hedad some level of peace and closure,”, concluyó el fiscal Billhimer..
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent effort of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill who handled the case on behalf of the State. Prosecutor Billhimer likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Equipo SWAT regional de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Unidad de Defensa de Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Manchester, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, and Verona Police Department, who collectively did an outstanding job investigating this matter, which ultimately resulted in Hatchett’s guilty plea and state prison sentence.