Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Pemberton Township Police Chief David H. Jantas announced that the body of a Pemberton Township man who went missing last week has been found buried in the Pine Barrens, and an acquaintance has been charged with fatally shooting the victim and then digging the grave in an effort to conceal the crime.
Police say Charles McGee, 55, of Daisy Lane in Pemberton Township, was charged with one count of Murder (First Degree), one count of Desecration of Human Remains (Second Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Second Degree) and Possession of a Firearm Without a Permit to Carry (Second Degree).
According to police, McGee was taken into custody yesterday by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, which includes members of the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department Warrant Unit.
McGee is accused of killing William Cline Jr., 48, and transporting the remains into the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest near Whitesbog Village. The grave was discovered by someone riding a motorcycle in the area, and reported to law enforcement on August 24.
Cline had last been seen driving a gold Ford Ranger extended cab pickup truck while leaving his East Lakeshore Drive residence on Tuesday, August 20 at 6 a.m.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood revealed that Cline was shot once in the back of the neck.
McGee is scheduled for a first appearance in Superior Court in Mount Holly this afternoon. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Pemberton Township Police Department, with assistance from the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, the Burlington County Sheriff's Department, Burlington County Central Communications, the Cinnaminson Fire Department, the Cinnaminson Township Police Department, the Mount Holly Township Police Department - NJ, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Search and Rescue, New Jersey State Park Police, the New Jersey State Police, and the Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Department.
McGee will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Bob Van Gilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit – Violent Crimes Section. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Brian Miller and Pemberton Township Police Detective Joshua Danka.
All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.