NJ Family Dismembered Body With Chainsaw After Fatal Shooting, Prosecutor Says

CAMDEN, NJ — A Camden man killed a person and had his wife and son dismember the victim before he fled to Canada a few months ago, authorities said Thursday.

Everton Thomas, his wife and his son are all facing charges in the death of a Deptford man whose body remains missing after he was shot and dismembered with a chainsaw in June, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

All three suspects were arrested on Monday. Thomas, who fled to Canada during the investigation, was taken into custody at the border while trying to return to the United States, authorities said.

Prosecutors did not immediately disclose a motive into the alleged killing.

The victim — Harold "Hal" Miller Jr., 48 — was reported missing June 14 to Deptford police. It was reported that he was playing cards with friends in Camden in the early morning hours of June 12, prosecutors said.

Miller's empty vehicle was found in nearby Pennsauken on June 14.

Surveillance footage and cell phone data showed Miller entering a home on the 2600 block of Baird Boulevard in Camden shortly before 11:30 a.m. June 12. Moments later, the footage captured what appeared to be a single gunshot, prosecutors said.

All three suspects live on that block, according to a statement of probable cause.

Miller was never seen leaving the property. But moments later, the video showed a man — later identified as Thomas — moving Miller's vehicle and parking it in the Pennsauken location where it was found, authorities said. Miller's powered-off cell phone was inside the vehicle.

Sherrie Parker and Deshawn Thomas — Everton Thomas's wife and son — bought a chainsaw, containers, trash bags and other cleaning supplies in the ensuing days, authorities said.

A witness who lives at their home told detectives that Everton woke Deshawn up and asked him to help "chop up" a body, authorities said.

In the next three days after the killing, Everton Thomas did not allow the witness to enter the basement, according to prosecutors. This was unusual because that's typically where the witness puts their shoes when entering the home.

Another witness who lived with them reported hearing a gunshot around 11 a.m. June 12, followed by loud music and extensive cleaning in the basement. The witness also smelled a "strong odor resembling that of a decomposing body" and heard power tools being used in the basement, said Det. Jake Siegfried, of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

The witness "stated Sherrie has made comments to him/her such as 'a wife got do what she's got to do' and that she is not 'giving up her husband' and 'l wish they never find him.' speaking about Everton," Siegfried wrote in the statement of probable cause.

Parker and Deshawn Thomas made several trips to the Tamarack Apartments dumpsters in Camden, authorities said. Then, they loaded several containers and trash bags into a vehicle before leaving the city, according to prosecutors.

On June 20, detectives searched their house and found Everton Thomas was carrying a loaded gun. The firearm had one round in the chamber and nine in a 10-round magazine, authorities said.

Detectives recovered suspected bloodstains from the basement doorframe. DNA testing later matched the bloodstains to Miller, Siegfried said.

Everton Thomas was taken in for questioning that day and released hours later without charges. The following afternoon, federal authorities advised that Everton Thomas fled to Canada via Buffalo, New York.

Thomas remained in Canada for several months, authorities said.

On Friday, authorities filed charges against all three suspects. They were all arrested on Monday.

Everton Thomas, 41, was detained by U.S. Customs agents at the Port of Buffalo after crossing from Canada into the United States on a commercial bus, authorities said. He remains jailed in New York as he awaits extradition to New Jersey.

Parker, 41, and Deshawn Thomas, 22, were arrested that day in Camden. They are being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility.

Everton Thomas was charged with first-degree murder. All three suspects were charged with second-degree desecration of human remains and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

Attorney information for the defendants wasn't immediately available in online court records.

Anyone with information can contact Siegfried at 856-225-5086 and Det. Andrew Mogck of the Camden County Police Department at 609-519-8588. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.