Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today (April 17, 2010) that Shaun Woodson, 24, of East Orange has been arrested on a complaint charging him with felony murder, murder, robbery and weapons offenses for the murder of Robert Nevius, 91, of Essex Fells.
Woodson is the co-defendant of Reginald Anthony, 28, of East Orange who was arrested on the same charges. Anthony was hired as a chauffeur for the Nevius family. Mr. Nevius was found dead on Thursday morning by the Essex Fells Police. The cause of death is blunt force trauma and strangulation and a stab wound to the neck, according to the autopsy.
Woodson was arrested yesterday. Anthony was arrested Thursday, April 15. Both were arrested at home.
The investigation is continuing.
Bail for Woodson was set at $1.5 million by the Honorable Michael A. Petrolle, JSC. Bail for Anthony is set at $1 million by the same judge. Both Woodson and Anthony are being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility.
If found guilty of these charges, both defendants face a minimum of 30 years to life in New Jersey state prison.
Not withstanding the charges, all defendants are presumed innocent unless they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
