Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on December 22, Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pa., was indicted on two counts of Murder, in connection with the deaths of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy, in Surf City on or about September 29.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, Heffernan was also indicted on charges of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose – specifically, a handgun, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (handgun), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose – specifically, a knife and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (knife).
Prosecutor Billhimer stated that on October 3, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Officers from the Surf City Police Department responded to a residence on North 7th Street to conduct a welfare check upon the residents.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, when they arrived, officers located the bodies of John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester; it was readily apparent that both victims were already deceased.
On October 4, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Enders and determined the cause of his death to be multiple stab wounds with severance of the right carotid artery and blunt force trauma; the manner of death was ruled to be a homicide.
A post-mortem examination of Ms. Pitoy performed on October 5 determined the cause of her death to be multiple stab wounds as well as a gunshot wound to the face; the manner of her death has likewise ruled a homicide.
Based upon the gunshot wound to Ms. Pitoy, the Medical Examiner performed an additional examination of Mr. Enders and found that he had also suffered a gunshot wound to the face.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Surf City Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that the victims were involved in a dating relationship and that Mr. Enders was the primary owner of the residence. Ms. Pitoy stayed with him at the residence regularly.
The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Heffernan, Mr. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy.
According to Prosecutor Billhimer, on October 4, Heffernan was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police at her residence in Landenberg.
On October 20, Heffernan was returned to New Jersey and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.