Daughter Killed Dad, Girlfriend At The Jersey Shore: Prosecutor

SURF CITY, NJ — A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with murder in the death of her father and his girlfriend at a home in Surf City, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Surf City Police Chief John N. Casella, Jr. said Tuesday in a joint statement.

Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, was charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with a stabbing that authorities believe happened on or about Sept. 29 at her father's home.

On Sunday at about 4 p.m., Surf City police responded to a home on North 7th Street to conduct a welfare check upon the residents, Billhimer said. When they arrived, officers located two deceased bodies with multiple stab wounds, who were later identified as John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester.

After a post-mortem examination of Enders on Monday, the Ocean County Medical Examiner determined the cause of his death to be multiple stab wounds with severance of the right carotid artery and blunt force trauma, Billhimer said. The manner of death was ruled to be a homicide.

A post-mortem examination of Pitoy is scheduled for Tuesday.

A subsequent 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 revealed that the victims were in a relationship and that Enders was the primary owner of the residence, Billhimer said. Pitoy stayed with him at the home regularly.

“The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Heffernan, Mr. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy,” Billhimer said.

Heffernan was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police at her residence in Landenberg on Monday. Heffernan 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,” said Billhimer. “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 in this investigation has my profound gratitude.”

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.