4 charged in home invasion killing of N.J. detective ordered jailed until trial

Four men charged with murder in the shooting death of a Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office detective will remain in jail while they await trial, a judge ruled Monday.

Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley was killed during an Oct. 15 home invasion at her Bridgeton residence.

Authorities have not confirmed if Mosley knew her attackers or if this was a random crime. A motive for the killing has not been disclosed.

Nyshawn B. Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland, Jarred D. Brown, 31, of Bridgeton, Richard B. Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gloucester City, and Byron L. Thomas, 35, of Paulsboro, are each charged with first-degree counts of murder and murder during the commission of a burglary, second-degree burglary, multiple weapons offenses, hindering and obstruction in connection with Mosley’s death.

All four face potential life sentences if convicted.

Cyndia E. Pimentel, 38, of Paulsboro, is accused of helping to cover up evidence of the killing and is charged with third-degree hindering an investigation, and fourth-degree counts of obstruction and tampering with evidence.

The four men appeared Monday for detention hearings following a recent decision to move the case from Cumberland to Atlantic County.

The defense sought the venue change because of potential conflicts of interest, but a defense bid to have the prosecutor on the case replaced because he previously worked in the same office as Mosley was dropped last week following the venue shift.

Authorities allege multiple people forced their way into Mosley’s Bridgeton home and shot her, and that Mosley shot Mutcherson in the chest before dying of her injuries.

Cellphone data, automated license plate readers, surveillance videos and witnesses helped piece together what unfolded on the night of the killing and placed the defendants together, Cape May County First Assistant Prosecutor Saverio Carroccia stated.

Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case, since the victim was employed by the Cumberland office.

Hawkins Willis, who was dating Pimentel, drove her 2012 Chevy Equinox from her residence in Paulsboro around 7 p.m. on the night of the killing and picked up Thomas, Brown and Mutcherson, the prosecutor said.

At 9:23 p.m., the vehicle was spotted in Bridgeton as it pulled up to a South Avenue residence linked to Brown, according to the prosecution.

From there, the men allegedly traveled to Buckshutem Road, where video surveillance from a trailer park near Mosley’s house picked up the Equinox just before 10 p.m., Carroccia said.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Mosley was getting ready for bed when three or four masked men kicked in the front door, the prosecutor stated.

Mosley, 51, was able to fire three shots from her service weapon, striking Mutcherson, according to Carroccia.

She was shot in her right knee, then likely fell to the floor and put up her hand to defend herself from the second shot, which struck her left wrist and traveled through her arm, Carroccia said.

The third shot was fired into the back of her head at a downward trajectory in what Carroccia said Monday “appears to be somewhat of an execution-type murder.”

The prosecutor didn’t identify the shooter, but said previously that the murder weapon has not been recovered.

A bullet that struck Mutcherson was found in the grass at Mosley’s home and contained the defendant’s DNA, the prosecutor said, and Mosley’s blood was found on one of Mutcherson’s sneakers.

A witness reported seeing people fleeing Mosley’s home shortly after 10 p.m. and video surveillance from multiple locations shows the SUV leaving the area, stopping at a medical facility in Bridgeton where Mutcherson was dropped off for treatment, and returning to the South Avenue address, Carroccia said.

Authorities were alerted about Mutcherson arriving at the medical facility. He initially told investigators he was shot in Millville, but they determined that was a lie, according to court documents.

The prosecution previously outlined efforts to hide evidence of the killing.

On Oct. 18, Pimentel and Hawkins Willis allegedly drove from Pimentel’s home to an address associated with Willis in Gloucester City, Carroccia said in November.

A search warrant for the Gloucester City property turned up multiple latex gloves and a size-6 boot with blood on it, and two floor mats, pieces of seatbelt and a car part from Pimentel’s vehicle were found in a driveway dumpster, according to the prosecutor.

DNA evaluation of that evidence is pending, he said in November.

Later on Oct. 18, Pimentel allegedly drove her SUV to Philadelphia with Hawkins Willis as a passenger and left it in a parking garage.

In arguing against Pimentel’s pre-trial release in November, Carroccia also described an uncorroborated claim that someone may target those involved in the killing.

“Law enforcement has received information from a confidential informant that an individual out of state was contacted to come down and take care of any and all individuals who are involved in connection with this homicide,” Carroccia said.

That issue wasn’t raised Monday.

Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Levin praised the state’s case Monday, calling it a “methodical, piece-by-piece investigation.”

“Even at this early stage, it looks like a pretty solid circumstantial case against all four co-defendants,” he said in assessing probable cause for the charges.

Thomas’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Scott Sherwood, noted that none of the evidence “puts a firearm in the hands of Mr. Thomas” on the night of the killing and that cellphone data did not place him at the victim’s home.

The prosecutor explained that Thomas’ cellphone appeared to be shut off during the time of the home invasion and that the other three men’s phones appeared to have been left at the South Avenue address when the SUV was spotted traveling to and from the victim’s residence.

In seeking his client’s pre-trial release, Sherwood said he has a job, some college education, cares for his four children and suffers from diabetes-related health issues. He said Thomas would remain in the area and attend all hearings if freed.

“Any individual who participates in a violent home invasion while he and/or his co-conspirators are strapped with firearms is a danger to every single person in every community,” the prosecutor responded in seeking Thomas’ detention.

In concluding that Thomas should remain detained, the judge recounted his prior record, which includes convictions for unlawful possession of a handgun, burglary and drug distribution, and noted that he’s served three terms behind bars. He was sentenced to five years in state prison in 2022 for drug distribution.

In describing the danger Brown posed if released, the prosecutor characterized the case in stark terms. “It’s felony murder involving a just brutal, vicious home invasion of a police officer,” Carroccia said.

Brown’s attorney, Jeffrey Hark, objected to what he termed the prosecutor’s “prejudicial remarks” about his client.

“There are no facts presented in the probable cause statement that would reflect that the victim in this matter was actively engaged in her police duties, let alone … whether this defendant or any of the other co-defendants knew that the alleged victim was a police officer,” Hark said.

The judge responded that it’s typical for prosecutors in detention hearings to describe a victim’s occupation simply as background and said he didn’t believe the prosecution was suggesting Mosley was on duty at the time of the crime.

In arguing for his client’s release, Hark stated that Brown voluntarily surrendered to police. He described Brown as a lifelong Cumberland County resident with a child, and said he would not be a flight risk.

Brown’s criminal background includes convictions for gun possession crimes, endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct, endangering the welfare of a child by non-sexual conduct, forgery, hindering apprehension and obstruction, the judge said. Brown was on probation at the time of his arrest in the Mosley case, Levin added.

The attorney for Hawkins Willis didn’t challenge the state’s motion for detention Monday, but reserved the right to file a motion to reopen detention once the defense has received all discovery in the case.

At the time of his arrest, Hawkins Willis had five pending charges in a domestic violence case, for simple assault, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft and hindering apprehension, the judge said.

His prior record includes convictions for unlawful possession of a handgun, drug distribution and theft, and he’s served two terms behind bars, including a five-year sentence in 2018 for the gun charge. He also has a history of domestic violence and six prior failures to appear in court, Levin noted.

While Brown, Hawkins Willis and Thomas remain in county jails, Mutcherson has been returned to state prison for a parole violation.

He had served time for aggravated assault on a domestic violence victim and obstruction and was released from prison in June with parole supervision, according to court records.

Mutcherson didn’t challenge the state’s motion to detain him in the Mosley case during his appearance on Monday.

His prior record of five indictable convictions and five stints in state prison includes aggravated assault and weapons offenses, the judge noted Monday.

Pimentel was freed from jail to await trial following a detention hearing last month.

She previously worked as a police officer and was employed by the Camden County Police Department from 2013 to 2015, when she resigned.

The four murder defendants are scheduled to return to court on Jan. 27 for pre-indictment hearings.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.