A six-count indictment was returned last week charging three individuals with the March 2016 murder of 53-year-old Michael DiMattia of Hamilton, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
Authorities said Marcus L. Muse, of Mayapple Lane, Willingboro, Joshua Major, of Elizabeth Street, Pemberton, and Tatiana S. Cole, of Mary Street, Pemberton, were each indicted on one count of second-degree conspiracy, one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of first- degree robbery, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Hamilton police responded to an apartment on Estates Boulevard just after 7 a.m. on March 17, 2016 after receiving a 911 call.
Upon arrival, police found the resident of the apartment, identified as DiMattia, dead inside.
An investigation revealed that Muse, Major and Cole were present at DiMattia’s residence on that date, and participated in the planning of a robbery during which the victim was shot two times.
The defendants are alleged to have stolen more than $18,000 from DiMattia’s residence.
The charges are a result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, specifically lead investigator Adrian Markowski of the Robbinsville Township Police Department, with assistance from Hamilton Police Detectives Mark Watson and Frank Burger.
Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court.