Slain Cranford Mom Was Attacked in Her Car, Held Captive, Court Records Say

A Cranford mom was attacked in her car and held captive before she was killed last month in her boyfriend's Union Township home, according to court records obtained by NJ.com.

Matthew Ballister III, 43, is accused of entering April Wyckoff’s car and attacking her, as well as restraining her in his home, NJ.com reported. The records also state he held her in his home intending to terrorize her before allegedly killing her on Oct. 22.

Ballister is accused of using force to obstruct witnesses from providing information to authorities, according to the records.

Last week, Ballister faced additional charges and the possibility of life without parole if convicted, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. 

He is charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree desecration of human remains, and single counts of second-degree burglary, second-degree hindering apprehension, third-degree criminal restraint, third-degree hindering apprehension, and third-degree making terroristic threats in addition to his initial first-degree murder charge, according to the prosecutor's office.

If convicted, Ballister could face life in prison without parole, the prosecutor’s office said. His bail amount was also increased by $3.5 million and now stands at a total of $5.5 million.

Wyckoff, 43, is believed to have been killed from blunt-force trauma. Wyckoff, who divorced her husband in 2010, graduated from Cranford High School and recently moved back to town with her 23-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.

Wyckoff was described by a friend as a funny woman who found happiness with her children.

Ballister pleaded not guilty last Monday in his first court appearance in Elizabeth in front of Judge Joan Robinson Gross, according to NJ.com.

Ballister's mother, Eleanor Schofield, 70, of Mountainside, was released from Union County Jail Friday on $1,500 bail, according to NJ.com. Schofield has been charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly helping her son conceal evidence following the killing, the prosecutor's office said.

Last Monday, authorities discovered Wyckoff’s remains in the Passaic River off of Raymond Boulevard in Newark, but they continue to search for further remains, Mark Spivey, a spokesman for the Union County Prosecutor’s office said.

Authorities searched for Wyckoff's body in parts of Hudson, including at Liberty State Park, Essex and Union counties. According to Spivey, the search areas for the additional remains include those counties, including parts of Jersey City and Newark.