Authorities reported the arrest of a Boynton Beach man and two other Florida residents in what is believed to be a premeditated acid attack in New Jersey. The suspects allegedly targeted a woman, leaving her with severe burns covering over a third of her body, detailed in a news release by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. The Boynton Beach man identified as William DiBernardino, 49, along with Betty Jo Lane, 38, and Jmarr McNeil, 39, both from Jacksonville, face charges including first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, among others.
The vicious attack took place on July 26, when a 42-year-old woman had just returned home from work in Monroe Township, New Jersey. In a statement obtained by CBS12, authorities reported that "Lane threw a cup containing a hazardous liquid at the victim," which resulted in extensive chemical burns. The woman was promptly airlifted to a burn center for treatment where is she is still under care.
Further investigations led to the discovery that the getaway vehicle used by Lane to flee the scene was registered in Florida and rented from a rental agency. This key piece of evidence linked DiBernardino to the crime, as Lane and McNeil were purportedly paid by him to perform the attack on the woman, whom DiBernardino had previously been romantically involved with.
After a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Florida Highway Patrol, and local police departments, the three suspects were eventually apprehended in Florida. As stated in the WPTV report, "Several federal and Florida law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation," highlighting the broad scope of the law enforcement response.
Each of the accused has waived extradition and will be held in Florida awaiting transport to New Jersey to face their charges. With the legal process just starting, the community looks on, hoping for justice for a woman whose life has been irrevocably changed by a senseless act of violence.
