Woman Charged In LBI Double Murder To Remain In Jail Until Trial

SURF CITY, NJ – A Pennsylvania woman charged with murdering her father and his girlfriend in their Surf City home will remain in jail pending trial, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Wednesday.

Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester. She has also been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon —specifically a knife — for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a weapon – specifically a handgun – for an unlawful purpose.

Police found the couple dead in Enders' home on North 7th Street during a welfare check on Oct. 3 with multiple stab wounds, Billhimer said.

The next day, Heffernan was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police at her residence in Landenberg.

A post-mortem examination of Pitoy performed on Oct. 5 determined the cause of her death to be multiple stab wounds and a gunshot wound to the face; the manner of her death was likewise ruled a homicide, according to Billhimer. The medical examiner performed an additional examination of Enders and found that he had also suffered a gunshot wound to the face.

On Oct. 20, Heffernan was returned to New Jersey and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since.

Billhimer announced Wednesday that Heffernan will remain in the Ocean County Jail pending trial.

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