Woodbury, NJ – Dennis J. Hall, 71, of Franklin Township, has been charged with first-degree murder in the strangulation death of a 41-year-old woman, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced.
According to documents filed in this case:
Franklin Township Police responded to an East Avenue home at 6:16 a.m. on Thursday, June 11 after Hall called and reported a 41-year-old female was not breathing. Hall admitted to strangling the victim both on the call to emergency services and to officers when they arrived. A witness also told police that Hall had woken them up and admitted to strangling the victim.
Officers attempted lifesaving measures on the victim, who was transported to a local hospital. On June 12 the victim was removed from life support and pronounced dead. An autopsy performed Sunday, June 14 by the Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland Regional Medical Examiner determined the immediate cause of death was asphyxiation and the manner of death was homicide.
Hall was arrested at the scene, initially charged with attempted murder, and remanded to the Salem County Jail. Following the victim’s death and the autopsy, the charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. Hall remains jailed pending the State’s motion for pretrial detention.
The County of Gloucester complies with all state and federal rules and regulations against discrimination in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, and activities. In addition, County encourages participation of people with disabilities in its programs and activities and offers special services to all residents 60 years of age and older. Inquiries regarding compliance may be directed to the County’s ADA Coordinator at (856) 384-6842/ New Jersey Relay Service 711.
The maximum term of incarceration for the murder charge is life in prison.
Prosecutor Johns credited the Franklin Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes and Crime Scene Investigation Units for the investigation leading to today’s upgraded charge.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.