South Jersey Man Charged In Brutal Murder Of Atlantic City Woman

MAYS LANDING – A Pleasantville man has been charged with the murder of an Atlantic City woman who was found dead with severe blunt force head trauma, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said.

Mark Huff, 54, has been charged with one count of murder and once count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose in the death of Vernell K. Vance, 56.

Huff was arrested on Monday afternoon in Pleasantville by detectives from the Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit and detectives from the Atlantic City Police Department, with help from Pleasantville police, Tyner said.

"New Jersey Transit Police were instrumental in identifying Huff as the suspect in the homicide," the prosecutor said.

Atlantic City police received a 911 call at 11:28 p.m. on Saturday that a body had been found behind 21 South Tennessee Avenue. Vance was already dead when they arrived.

An autopsy on Monday performed by Southern Regional Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined she died of significant blunt force head trauma and ruled her death as homicide, Tyner said.

Huff is lodged at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Logo: Courtesy of Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office