(NJ Department of Corrections) NEW! On March 20, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. After Maria's death, Marshall, a once prominent and respected Toms River insurance broker, planned to collect a $1.5 million payout on her life insurance policy and then be free to legitimize an extramarital affair. But if there was any doubt about whether Marshall felt regret or sorrow over what he had done to his family was illustrated in what then-Assistant Prosecutor Kevin W. Kelly revealed during Marshall's trial in 1986. Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said Monday that he too is troubled by the fact that Marshall was incapable of acknowledging his complicity in the case. a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. He was eligible for parole at the time of his death Saturday and the state Parole Board seemed poised to grant him his last request due to his failing health. with your family. Whether the killings of 14-year-old Suzanne Garden . Over the years, it was made into a true crime novel, called "Blind Faith" by Joe McGinniss and a TV mini-series. This is about average for all cities and towns in America of all population sizes. "I do feel a little cheated that he never took the opportunity in his declining health, in the end of his life, to say 'I'm sorry. [3][4], After a police investigation, Marshall was arrested on December 19, 1984. admin commented on Get the Latest News & Alerts from the Toms River Police Department. Authorities have charged a 39-year-old Toms River man with the shooting death of two men in a Lakewood apartment complex on Sunday morning. On August 18, 2006, Marshall was resentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole in eight years. Insurance mogul plots murder, 1984 Returning from Atlantic City to their home in Toms River on Sept. 7, 1984, prominent insurance agent Robert O. Marshall and his wife Maria pulled over to a. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Several Lucchese family mobsters who were arrested were also implicated in the November 2013 killing of notorious mob hitman Michael Meldish, according to the federal indictment. "The emotional range is from relief to sadness and mourning, this person who is your father is gone. When Robert O. Marshall, the Toms River insurance salesman who was convicted of the murder-for-hire of his wife, Maria, in 1984, died in prison this week, there were many people who shared memories -- of the case, of Maria, and of the couples three sons. It turned out, she didnt commit suicide but was brutally murdered by her former classmate Liam McAtasney. 2020 TomsRiver.org All Rights Reserved. Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@app.com. Thompson, who had lost quite a bit of hair since his New Jersey trial, was wearing a baseball cap, jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt advertising auto parts, Churchill said. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. The case spawned a best-selling book, "Blind Faith," and a subsequent TV movie of the same name. Sat, Jan 28, 7:00 PM. He claimed that when he and his wife pulled over at the Oyster Creek picnic area in Lacey Township (which was closed at the time), he noticed the right rear tire was flat. Toms River NJ Irish Festival to be held downtown. For Toms River, NeighborhoodScout found that the violent crime rate is well below the national average for all communities of all population sizes. Although double jeopardy precludes Thompson from being tried again, his earliest possible parole date under his current sentence is 2071. This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Toms River. For Marshall's two eldest sons who had pleaded with parole board members not to release their father from jail, where he had been since his conviction in the murder of their mother Marshall's death closes a painful chapter in this family tragedy. At the same time, there is this 'vindictive happiness' that he's gone now. Churchill asked whether he presented an alibi from people he knew were lying. According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the victim of the homicide that occurred at has been identified as Nymere Tinsley, 25 . Madonna and DiNapoli have been serving prison sentences after pleading guilty to charges from "Operation Heat. Case narratives of over 25 unsolved murders of girls, teenagers and women in New Jersey, 1960-1980. 0:00. Crime risk data are updated annually. There are some crimes that well never forget, either because of their deviousness, heinousness, or public impact. Rest in peace, sir. "There is nothing more important than family," Coronato said. Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. Rest in peace, sir. The main reason for Thompsons acquittal in the Maria Marshall murder was an alibi sworn testimony from three family members that Thompson was in Louisiana on Sept. 7, 1984. (New Jersey Courts via AP) Cottingham is known as the "Torso Killer" for brutally dismembering his victims by cutting off their limbs and heads. McKinnon, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, testified that Marshall hired him to kill his wife and that he and Thompson drove ahead of Marshalls Cadillac Eldorado to the Oyster Creek Picnic area off the Garden State Parkway on Sept. 7, 1984, where Thompson, he said, shot and killed Maria Marshall. 2C:39-4d, three counts of Unlawful Possession of Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. On April 7, Louisiana authorities sent Churchill an affidavit signed by Thompson acknowledging his involvement in the Marshall case. Marshall was involved in a 14-month affair with Sarann Kraushaar, a vice-principal at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, whom he told he wanted to "get rid of" his wife to use her insurance money to pay off his debt. [4][14][15][16], "Robert O. Things We Did in the 80s That Are Completely Unacceptable Today, 10 Halloween Costumes That Might Offend Your Woke Neighbors in 2020, 10 Department Stores New Jerseyans Grew Up With in the 80s, But Are Now Gone. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Police reports are obtained through the Records Division of the Police Department. Steven Crea Sr., who was the underboss; DiNapoli, the consiglieri and Madonna had long careers in the Luchese family, spanning decades, according to law enforcement officials. Nineteen members of the Lucchese crime family were indicted Wednesday and will face charges for various crimes such as murder, extortion, money laundering and the importation and distribution of contraband, according to a federal indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. On the night of September 7, 1984, insurance broker Marshall and his wife, Maria, were traveling home from Atlantic City, New Jersey capital murder for the murder-for-hire on March 5, 1986 and sentenced to death by lethal injection. Though lower courts initially rejected his argument, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph E. Irenas ruled on April 8, 2004 in Camden, New Jersey that Marshall received ineffective assistance from his attorney during the death penalty phase of his trial. Published May 16, 2014 TOMS RIVER, N.J. - At a picnic area on the Garden State Parkway, Robert Marshall pulled over shortly after midnight to check a tire on his white Cadillac. In 1964, the body of a man who was set to testify against the mafia, Anthony Scanella was found in the woods in Jackson. Marshall filed a petition arguing that his lawyer had not met minimal constitutional standards. Forensic characteristics: Strangled with her own belt. Levy ON SUNDAY THE TURKEY BUZZARDS flew low to the pines. Marshall, an insurance man, said he noticed a lurking sedan when he checked his tires at Oyster Creek. 70 Crash Investigation Closes Lanes Friday Morning: DOT, Toms River Schools Hit With $14.4M State Aid Cut For 2023-24, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), Raisin, The Tony-Winning Best Musical - Second Incredible Week, Un Lucky Charms Murder Mystery Dinner Show, Green Tea Matcha and Sushi Dinner Party at the Historic Mathis House, Filipino Dinner Night with Live Music at the Mathis House, Tea and Scones with the Easter Bunny at the Historic Mathis House in Downtown Toms River, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Firefighters Come To Kitty's Rescue In Brick, See Latest Pets Up For Adoption At Toms River Area Shelters. "We always knew he got off because of a lot of people lying," Churchill said yesterday. In a stunning admission that many in New Jersey law enforcement thought might never come, Larry Thompson, a 72-year-old inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, confessed last month to. He had been scheduled for a parole hearing in March. Richard Codey in 2006.) The victims are all women and have all slept with him except for one, and that . Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. 1 min read. ". Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. The book was adapted into an Emmy-nominated 1990 TV miniseries of the same name starring Robert Urich and Joanna Kerns. The investigation further revealed that several household items were used by Ms. Carbone in the commission of the homicide; specifically, a wooden board, a heavy duty tape dispenser, and a shower curtain rod were recovered from the scene. It was November of 1985 and I was in Mr. Jaegers art class at Toms River Intermediate East when we realized Barbara Renee Harrison was never coming back to class. They said they had an even older, unsolved murder, from 1979, and it was eerily similar to that of Maria Marshall. Christopher remembered him and seemed receptive to the information. Marshall claimed he was knocked unconscious and woke not only to find his $15,000 winnings from Atlantic City gone, but his wife was shot dead in the front seat of his car with two gunshot wounds. Another man served a short jail sentence in exchange for testifying for the state, and a third man was sentenced to a life term for connecting Marshall to the murder-for-hire group, all of whom hailed from Louisiana. In 2006, with a moratorium on the death penalty in New Jersey, Marshall was resentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for 30 years. Methodology: Ritacco was a well-liked and powerful superintendent of the Toms River Regional Schoool District. Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies municipal, county, transit, park, port, university, tribal and more, assigned to localities, then built into NeighborhoodScouts proprietary predictive models to provide a comprehensive crime risk profile for every neighborhood and address-vicinity in the U.S. More about NeighborhoodScouts crime data methodology, By sending this Report you agree to NeighborhoodScout's, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a [13][14] With his health reportedly failing in the months prior following a "debilitating stroke", Marshall died in South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey on February 21, 2015. He did just that on Thursday, beginning with the photograph of Maria Marshall on his bulletin board. Steven "Wonder Boy" Crea Sr., 69, of Crestwood, N.Y. Dominic "Dom" Truscello, 83, Staten Island, N.Y. John "Big John" Castelucci, 57, Staten Island, N.Y. Tindaro "Tino" Corso, 56, Staten Island, N.Y. James "Jimmy the Jew" Maffucci, 69, Manhattan, N.Y. Joseph "Big Joe," "Joey Glasses" Datello, 66, Staten Island, N.Y. Paul "Paulie Roast Beef" Cassano, 38, Yonkers, N.Y. Carmine "Spanish Carmine" Garcia, 65 Hawthorne. Gardens Of Pleasant Plains / Homestead Run. On April 24, Churchill was on a plane to Louisiana. It turned out Marshall hired two gunmen to kill his wife so he could collect a $1.5 million insurance policy. Several Lucchese family mobsters who were arrested were also implicated in the November 2013 killing of notorious mob hitman. The number of homicides stood at 1. Churchill, Scott, McWilliams and Thompson had sole possession of the wardens office for the next 2 to 3 hours while Churchill took his statement. #dailyvoice #cliffviewpilot #njsp #policeinvolved https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/lyndhurst/news/nj-troopers-justified-in-shooting-driver-from-poconos-who-shot-dog-grand-jury-rules/857983/#880, Prayers to the #NJSP Trooper who was wounded in the line of duty last night well wishes for a speedy recovery @NJSP, Keep the NJ State Trooper who was wounded overnight in your prayers. He was getting closer to nailing Thompson, the last piece of the puzzle. A copy of a report may be obtained in person and upon proof of proper identification, through email or written request through regular mail. Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Meghan ONeill who is handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutors Office High Tech Crimes Unit, Ocean County Prosecutors Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Medical Examiners Office, Santa Rosa County (Florida) Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Unit, Westchester County (New York) Police Department, and Oneida County (New York) Sheriffs Department, for their collective and cooperative assistance in this investigation resulting in todays indictment. Madonna's career in organized crime goes all the way back to the 50s. When Robert O. Marshall, the Toms River insurance salesman who was convicted of the murder-for-hire of his wife, Maria, in 1984, died in prison this week, there were many people who shared. We will never forget. Michael Ritaccos name will always be synonymous with political corruption in Toms River. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. Maria Marshall, 42, was shot twice at close range in the back on Sept. 7, 1984, during a staged robbery at what was then a picnic area on a forested median strip of the Garden State Parkway in Lacey. Now let us turn to take a look at how Toms River does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. https://ocponj.gov/monroe-township-man-charged-with-murder/, TOMS RIVER MAN INDICTED ON TWO COUNTS OF MURDER Realizing the farm is where New York and North Jersey mobsters sent their bodies, the FBI and local officials began excavating the farm but never found any other bodies. NeighborhoodScout provides exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy. On the night of September 7, 1984, Robert O. Marshall of Toms River, New Jersey, an insurance broker and chairman of the Ocean County Chapter of the United Way fund, and his wife Maria were traveling north on the Garden State Parkway from Harrah's in Atlantic City when, according to Marshall, he felt a vibration in one of the car's tires. https://nj.gov/njsp/memoriam/1920s/madden.shtml. A day before the announcement of Thompsons confession from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, the Caddo Parish District Attorneys Office announced the arrest of James Montgomery on second-degree murder charges in the death of his wife on Jan. 1, 1979. NEW JERSEY GIRL MURDERS 1960-1980 . Thompson, he told him, "was alluding to the fact that he had some information regarding Maria Marshalls death. 18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. While investigating a series of murders, a homicide detective becomes the prime suspect when the FBI uncovers his close personal ties to all the victims. Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy Michael G. brings 40 years of law enforcement experience to the Sheriff's Office. He threw the gun off a bridge and he tossed Maria Marshalls purse onto the side of the road on the Garden State Parkway. 203062, likely succumbed to complications from a debilitating stroke he suffered over the summer, according to officials familiar with his health issues. Toms River has an overall crime rate of 10 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. Robert O. Marshall, 75, formerly of Toms River, who was also known as Prisoner No. While today, its a quiet neighborhood street, residents in the neighborhood still wonder what lies beneath the ground. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Cathy Seibel, who will hold an initial conference on Thursday at 2 p.m. As todays charges demonstrate, La Cosa Nostra remains alive and active in New York City, but so does our commitment to eradicate the mobs parasitic presence," Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said. Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. After 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury sentenced him to death. [2] Marshall alleged that he was then knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of his head, and approximately $15,000 worth of casino winnings was stolen. McKinnon was sentenced to five years for conspiracy to commit murder. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. Crime. Larry Thompson was sitting in a chair outside the wardens office waiting for them. But it is not the only murder case from Ocean County that has garnered national headlines. He wasnt handcuffed or shackled. This is a breaking story. While pointing out flaws in the judicial process he believed failed him, Marshall also alleged that his trial was contaminated by police misconduct and compromised testimony and evidence.[7]. In a stunning admission that many in New Jersey law enforcement thought might never come, Larry Thompson, a 72-year-old inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, confessed last month to being the triggerman in the infamous murder-for-hire death of Toms River socialite Maria Marshall in September 1984, authorities said. Originally sentenced to death, in 2006, Marshall was resentenced to life in prison, with eligibility for parole in 2014. Violent crimes such as assault, rape, murder and armed robbery happen less often in Toms River than in most of America.