By: Yuritza Arroyo
Bergen County authorities announced the conviction of Randy Manning of Englewood for the murder of Rhian Stoute in Englewood on August 15, 2011.
According to officials, on June 7 following a six-week jury trial in Bergen County Superior Court, Manning was convicted of nine charges in relation to the murder of Stoute:
Officials say first-degree murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a firearm, desecration of human remains, unlawful moving of human remains, arson, hindering apprehension by destroying or concealing evidence, hindering apprehension by giving false information to law enforcement, and unlawful taking of a means of conveyance.
At trial, the State presented evidence that on August 15, 2011, Manning shot the victim to death in a vacant house in Englewood.
According to authorities, he returned to the scene several hours later and set the victim’s body on fire.
Authorities say Manning then hid the victim’s body in an SUV, drove the SUV to Paramus and abandoned the vehicle on a quiet residential street.
He discarded key pieces of evidence in sewers in both Paramus and Brooklyn, New York, that were subsequently discovered by law enforcement during the ensuing investigation.