5 Indicted In Slaying Of NJ Detective

BRIDGETON, NJ — Four men accused of killing a detective execution-style in her South Jersey home were indicted last week on murder charges, according to court records.

Sgt. Monica Mosley was a detective for the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. In mid-October, she was fatally shot from several different angles during an apparent invasion of her Bridgeton home, authorities said.

In the ensuing weeks, four men were charged with murder, while a woman was charged for her alleged role in covering up the crime.

A grand jury indicted all five suspects last week.

The four men charged in the case are Nyshawn Mutcherson, 30, of Vineland; Jarred Brown, 32, of Bridgeton; Richard B. Hawkins Willis, 33, of Gloucester City; and Byron Thomas, 36, of Paulsboro.

The indictment charges them with murder (first-degree), murder during the commission of a burglary (first-degree), burglary (second-degree) hindering (third-degree), obstruction (fourth-degree) and weapons offenses.

Hawkins Willis was also indicted for fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

Cyndia Pimentel, 39, of Paulsboro was charged by indictment with third-degree hindering, fourth-degree obstruction and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

All four men have been jailed since their arrests in late October and early November. Pimental is on pre-trial release.

The Cape May County Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation, since Mosley worked for the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. The case was presented to an Atlantic County grand jury.

According to prosecutors, a group of masked men broke into Mosley's home on Oct. 15. Mosley, 51, grabbed her service weapon and shot one of the suspects in the chest, but she was later found dead at the scene.

Mosley was shot three times: once in the right leg, once in the left wrist/arm and once in the back of the head, according to Saverio Carroccia, first assistant prosecutor in Cape May County.

He pointed out that someone would have had to go behind Mosley to shoot her in the back of the head.

"Judge, I don't use this term lightly, but that's called an execution," Carroccia said during a hearing.

Mosley did not know the suspects, according to court records. But it's unclear whether any of the suspects knew of the veteran police detective.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the case.

Before the incident, Mutcherson, Thomas, Brown and Willis got together and dressed in dark clothing before driving to Mosley's home on Buckshutem Road, authorities said.

They broke into Mosley's home and shot her, but Mosley defended herself by shooting Mutcherson in the chest before succumbing to her injuries, according to court documents.

The suspects fled the scene, dropping Mutcherson off at the hospital, authorities said. They traveled in a black Chevrolet Equinox registered to Pimental, according to court documents. But Pimental is not accused of any involvement before or during the shooting.

In the days after, Pimental drove the vehicle to Philadelphia in an effort to conceal evidence, according to court documents. Willis was in the passenger seat.

All five suspects are set to return to court June 3 for post-indictment arrainment hearings.

Mosley joined the prosecutor's office in 2006 as a paralegal specialist. She became a county detective three years later.

"Sergeant Mosley was a constant friend and role model for all those with whom she served and led in the law enforcement community throughout Cumberland County and beyond," County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said after her death. "She will be missed more than words can detail, but she will never be forgotten by her CCPO family."