Woman Guilty In Murder Of Father, Girlfriend In Surf City: Officials

SURF CITY, NJ — A Pennsylvania woman has been found guilty on two counts of murder in connection with the stabbing and shooting of her father and his romantic partner, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.

Sherry Lee Heffernan, 57, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, was found guilty in the deaths of John Enders and Francoise Pitoy, following a nearly four week-long jury trial. She faces life in prison.

The jury found that Heffernan was guilty of using a knife and a handgun to kill Enders and Pitoy, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. She was also found guilty of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon for both the knife and gun.

Surf City police performed a wellness check on a North 7th Street home on Oct. 3, 2021, Billhimer said. The bodies of Enders, 87, of Surf City and Pitoy, 75, of Manchester were discovered and both were already dead.

A post-mortem examination found Enders' cause of death to be multiple stab wounds with severance of the right carotid artery and blunt force trauma; the manner of death was ruled to be a homicide. Officials determined the cause of Pitoy's death to be multiple stab wounds as well as a gunshot wound to the face; the manner of her death was likewise ruled a homicide.

Pitoy's gunshot wound made examiners take another look at Enders, where a gunshot wound was also found on his face, Billhimer said.

Investigation found that Enders, the owner of the Surf City home, and Pitoy, were in a dating relationship, and she regularly stayed at his house, Billhimer said. The investigation also determined that Heffernan, Enders' daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Enders and Pitoy, Billhimer said.

Heffernan was taken into custody at her Landensburg, PA home on Oct. 4, 2021, and was taken to Ocean County Jail on Oct. 20, where she has stayed ever since.

Her sentencing is set for May 10.