Apr 22, 2008 11:26 pm US/Eastern
Arrest Made In Case Of Missing Marlton Woman
MARLTON, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
Authorities announced there has been an arrest in the case of a missing Burlington County woman who disappeared over two years ago.
Burlington County Prosecutors said 32-year-old Alex James Crow of Medford, N.J. was arrested Monday in connection with the disappearance of 51-year-old Marlton resident Marianne DeMartin.
DeMartin was reported missing by family members on September 23, 2005. Several days later, authorities recovered her 2001 black Ford Mustang behind a Wawa in Voorhees Township. Investigators later discovered traces of unknown D.N.A. in the trunk.
Tests on the D.N.A. by the New Jersey State Police Forensic Labs eventually led to the identification of Crow on January 18.
Burlington County Robert Bernardi said Crow worked as a landscaper in DeMartin's apartment complex. On the evening of September 23, he was apparently looking to steal a vehicle when he came across DeMartin's Mustang.
DeMartin, who had just returned home from a business trip, was asleep on her couch at the time. When Crow noticed a sliding door to her home was ajar, Bernadi said he apparently entered the home and began going through DeMartin's belongings.
Authorities said DeMartin was awoken by the disturbance and a struggle ensued. At some point in the struggle, Crow allegedly strangled her to death. Crow then placed DeMartin's body in the trunk of the Mustang and waited for several hours before driving to Schuylkill County to dispose of her remains in a wooded area, according to investigators.
Bernardi said Crow took a Pennsylvania license plate from an abandoned vehicle 100 feet from where DeMartin's body was disposed. He was later found with the stolen tag during a traffic stop by Medford Township Police on November 18, 2005.
It was not until April 3, 2006 that a father and his two daughters found the decomposed remains in Schuylkill County. Because the remains were severely decomposed, investigators were not able to positively identify the body.
Using the D.N.A. information found in DeMartin's car and Crow's previous traffic stop, detectives eventually tied the two incidents together and identified DeMartin's remains on February 28 using past dental records.
Authorities said Crow has been charged with murder and burglary. He was arraigned before a judge Tuesday afternoon.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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