Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — A fourth man has been charged in the 2009 beating death of a New Jersey middle school teacher who authorities say was killed when robbers mistakenly targeted her apartment.
Monmouth County prosecutors say 38-year-old Jerry Spraulding, of Keansburg, faces felony murder and other charges.
Three other men are already charged in the death of Jonelle Melton, whose body was found in September 2009 inside her Neptune City apartment. The 33-year-old taught at a middle school in Red Bank.
Authorities say the men planned on robbing a different apartment in Melton's complex but killed her after realizing they'd entered the wrong one.
Spraulding is currently serving an 8-year prison sentence in an unrelated drug distribution case. It wasn't known Saturday if he had retained an attorney.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
