A Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office detective killed in a home invasion last month was shot execution-style, a prosecutor stated during a Thursday hearing.
Four people are charged with murder and related offenses in the Oct . 15 killing of Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley, and a fifth is charged with helping cover up evidence of the crime.
During a detention hearing for one of the defendants, the prosecution presented extensive details about the killing, how the defendants allegedly tried to cover their tracks and how DNA evidence on a bullet tied one of the alleged killers to the crime.
Authorities have not confirmed if Mosley knew her attackers or if this was a random home invasion. 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 commision of a burglary, second-degree burglary, multiple weapons offenses, hindering and obstruction.
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.
A judge ordered Pimentel’s pre-trial release during her detention hearing on Thursday, and the hearing for Hawkins Willis was postponed because his attorney is seeking a change of venue for his case.
Cyndia E. Pimentel, 38, of Paulsboro, is charged in connection with the Oct. 15 killing of Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley. Pimentel is accused of trying to cover up evidence of the crime.(NJ Courts)
Authorities allege that three 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, Cape May County First Assistant Prosecutor Saverio Carroccia told the court Thursday.
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, Carroccia said.
At 9:23 p.m., the vehicle was spotted in Bridgeton as it pulled up to a South Avenue residence linked to Brown, and that’s where the defendants changed into dark clothing, according to the prosecution.
The men allegedly traveled from there to the 600 block of 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 in her bedroom getting ready for bed when three masked men kicked in the front door of the house, the prosecutor stated.
Mosley, 51, was able to fire three shots from her service weapon, striking Mutcherson in the chest, 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 the fatal round.
“The shooter either was behind her or walked behind her, took out the gun and shot her in the back of the head,” Carroccia said. “Judge, I don’t use this term lightly, but that’s called an execution.”
The prosecutor didn’t identify the shooter, but said the murder weapon has not been recovered.
As for placing defendants at the scene, a bullet that struck Mutcherson was found in the grass at Mosley’s home and it contained the defendant’s DNA, the prosecutor said.
Also, Mosley’s blood was found on Mutcherson’s sneakers, according to Carroccia.
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.
Police were alerted about the wounded man arriving at the medical facility and Mutcherson was transferred to Cooper University Hospital for treatment, police previously said. He initially told investigators he was shot in Millville, but authorities soon determined that was a lie, according to court documents.
On Oct. 18, Pimentel and Hawkins Willis allegedly drove from Pimentel’s home in Paulsboro to an address associated with Willis in Gloucester City, Carroccia said Thursday.
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 evidence found at that property is pending, he added.
Police officers walk in line for the funeral of Detective Sgt. Monica Mosley at Bridgeton High School, in Bridgeton, NJ on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Mosley was killed in a home invasion shooting at her residence on Oct. 15.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance
Later on Oct. 18, Pimentel allegedly drove her SUV to Philadelphia with Hawkins Willis as a passenger and left it in a parking garage, then got a lift back to New Jersey from someone described by the prosecution as a witness and a friend of Hawkins Willis.
While Carroccia acknowledged that Pimentel has no prior criminal record and a court public safety assessment recommended her pre-trial release on her own recognizance, the severity of the case and the potential she could flee should be considered, he said.
To prove his point that Pimentel could skip out on future court appearances if released, the prosecutor described an uncorroborated claim that someone may target those involved in the case.
“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.
The allegations against Pimentel already demonstrate she will try to hinder the ongoing investigation if given a chance, the prosecutor said, arguing that she helped clean the vehicle, remove evidence and hid her SUV.
He cited her prior work as a police officer, saying she is someone who should have known better than to obstruct an investigation. Pimentel was employed by the Camden County Police Department from 2013 to 2015, when she resigned.
“The great lengths that she went through to prevent four convicted felons who have firearm convictions, after their home invasion and murdering Sgt. Mosley, to help them remain out on the street is a danger to every person in every community, in every state, in every country in the world,” the prosecutor said. “Judge, if you do not detain her, the community is in danger and more obstructive behavior is going to happen.”
If the prosecutor had any evidence that Pimentel was involved in conspiratorial conduct, she would have been charged with more severe offenses, defense attorney Ronald Thompson argued, saying the state has no evidence she was involved in cleaning out the car or cutting out seatbelts.
Apart from knowing Hawkins Willis, she has never met the other defendants, Thompson said, and she had no idea what Hawkins Willis was allegedly doing.
“There is no suggestion at all that Ms. Pimentel has ever done anything but live a law-abiding life,” he said. “She is truly a law-abiding citizen who happened to get involved with someone who used her car on a particular day and may have been involved in some criminal activity.”
Thompson objected to Carroccia’s repeated use of Mosley’s detective sergeant rank, arguing there was no evidence linking her employment to the killing.
“It’s not fair to continually interject her employment status into this case. It’s not an element of the offense and there’s no suggestion that it has anything to do with her employment,” Thompson said.
Superior Court Judge Niki Arbittier stated that she would not be influenced by references to the victim’s employment when it came to making her decision and allowed the prosecution to continue using Mosley’s rank.
“Sgt. Mosley has earned the right to be called a sergeant,” Carroccia responded. “I will not call her Miss Mosley. I will not call her Mosley. I will not refer to her as the victim.”
After hearing the arguments, the judge concluded that the state hadn’t made its case for holding Pimentel until trial and ordered her release with the requirement that she report to court officials weekly and have no contact with anyone involved in the case.
A Thursday detention hearing for Hawkins Willis was postponed until Nov. 15 because his attorney is seeking to move his case to another county.
The change of venue was sought because the victim is a Cumberland County law enforcement officer, Public Defender Sophia Waldstein said, citing “the connection between law enforcement in this county and the decedent.”
Court records indicate that Thomas, who is scheduled to appear in court Friday for his detention hearing, is also seeking a change of venue.
A Thursday hearing for Brown was moved to Friday over issues with the defense saying it had not received video and data evidence.
Cape May County prosecutors are handling the case because the victim worked for the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office.
Stories by Matt Gray
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.