Nov 5, 2009 6:06 pm US/Eastern
Egg Harbor Township Man Charged In Wife's Death
EGG HARBOR, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
An Egg Harbor Township man was in court Thursday to face charges after allegedly strangling his wife and dumping her body in a nearby creek.
John M. Hilyard, 48, appeared in court Thursday after allegedly killing his wife and mother of their three young children, 45-year-old Chun Yan Hilyard.
Prosecutors allege Hilyard killed his wife sometime Tuesday morning and placed her body in a creek near Spruce Avenue. He reported her missing a day later.
Chun Yan Hilyard's body was discovered by a jogger Wednesday morning. Several hours later, John Hilyard was taken into custody and charged with one count of murder.
An autopsy determined Chun Yan died of asphyxia due to strangulation, prosecutors said.
Chun Yan, who was born in China, was an accomplished artist who often showed her land and seascapes at the Ocean City Arts Center.
"Chan Yan Hilyard was a gracious, purely motivated visual artist in our Southern New Jersey art community," said Exective Director Lorraine Hansen.
John Hilyard is currently being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $1 million full cash bail.
The couple's three sons, twin 7-year-olds and a 10-year-old, are currently staying with relatives. Officials say they will do what they can to keep the boys together.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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