A family tragedy in Burlington County has led to murder charges for a Hainesport man, after prosecutors say he killed his aunt inside her Lumberton Township apartment.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the victim as 60-year-old Vanessa Sturtevent and the suspect as her 40-year-old nephew, Jason Mutschler of Hainesport. Officials say Mutschler is charged with murder and weapons offenses and is being held in jail while the case moves through the courts.
How investigators say the slaying unfolded
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, a relative found Sturtevent dead inside her unit at the Sterling Glen Apartments on Eayrestown Road on Friday. An autopsy revealed stab wounds to her head and neck, along with blunt-force trauma to her face and head, prosecutors said.
Detectives from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, working with the Lumberton Township Police Department, identified Mutschler as a suspect, questioned him and then took him into custody.
Charges and court timetable
Prosecutors say Mutschler is charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. He remains locked up as he awaits a detention hearing and a decision from a grand jury on whether to indict.
Authorities have not publicly described a possible motive and have not released a timetable for upcoming court appearances.
What a detention hearing and grand jury can mean
In New Jersey, a detention hearing determines whether a defendant will stay in jail before trial. Judges can weigh factors such as the seriousness of the charges, the risk that the defendant might flee and any potential danger to the community.
A grand jury, meanwhile, hears evidence to decide whether to return an indictment. The New Jersey Supreme Court has said prosecutors may proceed by proffer at detention hearings and that those hearings are often scheduled quickly after an arrest, according to the court’s decision in State v. Ingram.
The outcome of the detention hearing, the grand jury review and any resulting indictment will determine whether the case advances to Superior Court for a formal arraignment and eventual trial.
Authorities seek tips
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prosecutor’s Office or the Lumberton Township Police Department.
Lumberton Police list a non-emergency phone line and municipal address on the department’s website for tips and public records. The prosecutor’s office has not yet posted a case-specific press release on its site.
