El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer y el jefe de policía de Surf City, John N.. casella, Jr., anunció que en octubre 20, 2021, Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pensilvania, was charged with Possession of a Weapon – specifically a handgun – for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a, as well as Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b.
Heffernan was previously charged on October 5, 2021 with two counts of Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), in connection with the deaths of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy in Surf City on or about September 29, 2021. Heffernan was also charged on that date with Possession of a Weapon -specifically a knife – for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, as well as Unlawful Possession of Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d.
En octubre 3, 2021, aproximadamente a 4:00 pm., Officers from the Surf City Police Department responded to a residence on North 7th Street to conduct a welfare check upon the residents. When they arrived, Officers located the bodies of John Enders, 87, de la ciudad del surf, y Françoise Pitoy, 75, de Mánchester; it was readily apparent that both victims were already deceased. En octubre 4, 2021, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Enders and determined the cause of his death to be multiple stab wounds with severance of the right carotid artery and blunt force trauma; the manner of death was ruled to be a homicide. A post-mortem examination of Ms. Pitoy performed on October 5, 2021 determined the cause of her death to be multiple stab wounds as well as a gunshot wound to the face; the manner of her death was likewise ruled a homicide. Based upon the gunshot wound to Ms. Pitoy, the Medical Examiner performed an additional examination of Mr. Enders and found that he had also suffered a gunshot wound to the face.
Una investigación de la Unidad de Delitos Mayores de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía de Surf City, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that the victims were involved in a dating relationship, and that Mr. Enders was the primary owner the residence. EM. Pitoy stayed with him at the residence regularly. The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Heffernan, Señor. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy. “The discovery of additional evidence demonstrating that Heffernan used a handgun in the commission of this crime – in addition to a knife – precipitated the filing of these additional weapons charges,”, afirmó el fiscal Billhimer..
En octubre 4, 2021, Heffernan was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police at her residence in Landenberg. En octubre 20, 2021, Heffernan was returned to New Jersey and served with the new weapons charges. She is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Cassella commend the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Unidad de Delitos Económicos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Squad, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Ocean, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía de Surf City, Departamento de policía del municipio de Long Beach, Departamento de policía del municipio de Stafford, Policía Estatal de Nueva Jersey, Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Mercer, Oficina del médico forense del condado de Ocean, Ocean County Motor Vehicle Services, Pennsylvania State Police, Collegeville (Pensilvania) Departamento de Policia, Horsham Township (Pensilvania) Departamento de Policia, Montgomery County (Pensilvania) District Attorney’s Office, Chester County (Pensilvania) District Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police, and North East (Maryland) Departamento de Policia, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Heffernan’s apprehension.
Los cargos mencionados anteriormente son meras acusaciones y se recuerda a la prensa y al público que todos los acusados se presumen inocentes a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia.
RPC. 3.6(b)(6).