PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF HER FATHER AND FATHER'S GIRLFRIEND IN SURF CITY NEW JERSEY
" Sherry Lee Heffernan Of Landenberg, Pennsylvania Charged With Murder & Weapons Related Offenses In The Saturday, September 29, 2021 Murders In Surf City, New Jersey."
October 6, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
SURF CITY, NJ.- On Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Surf City Police Chief John N. Casella, Jr., announced the arrest of Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Heffernan has been Charged with Two Counts of Murder in connection to the Deaths of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy in Surf City on or about September 29, 2021. Ms. Heffernan was also charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; and Unlawful Possession of Weapon.
On Saturday, October 3, 2021, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Members of The Surf City Police Department responded to a residence on North 7th Street, in Surf City, New Jersey to conduct a welfare check upon the residents.
Upon arrival, Police Officers located the bodies of John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester, New Jersey, both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy had sustained multiple stab wounds and had been deceased for approximately two to four days. On Monday, October 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 was scheduled for Tuesday.
An ensuing investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Surf City Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that the victims were involved in a dating relationship, and that Mr. Enders was the owner the residence. Ms. Pitoy stayed with him at the residence regularly. “The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Ms. Heffernan, Mr. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
On Tuesday, October 4, 2021, Ms. Heffernan was taken into custody by The Pennsylvania State Police at her residence in Landenberg. Upon her extradition to New Jersey, she will be lodged in The Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
“This truly was a team effort in terms of the depth and comprehensiveness of this investigation. These detectives combed through the evidence to ultimately determine that Heffernan did, in fact, cause the deaths of Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “We were able to determine very early on in the investigation that there was no immediate danger to the public. From there, these detectives went to work doing their absolute best to solve these horrific crimes. Every law enforcement officer involved this investigation has my profound gratitude,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Cassella commend The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Surf City Police Department, Long Beach Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Maryland State Police, Collegeville (Pennsylvania) Police Department, North East (Maryland) Police Department, and Ocean County Motor Vehicle Services, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Heffernan’s apprehension.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER OCTOBER 6, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: