Crime & Safety

David Shroitman Indicted In Somerville Fatal Stabbing Of MaryRose Fealey

Authorities reportedly found numerous bleach containers throughout his home and a manifesto laying out a plan step-by-step for the homicide.

David C. Shroitman, 27, of Brookside Avenue, Somerville.
David C. Shroitman, 27, of Brookside Avenue, Somerville. (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A Somerset County Grand Jury returned an indictment on Thursday against David C. Shroitman of Somerville for the murder of Mary Rose Fealey, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Shroitman, 27, of Brookside Avenue, Somerville, was indicted for first-degree murder with aggravating factors, third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree stalking.

On Jan. 30 at around 10:20 p.m., a 911 call reported an injured unresponsive woman located outside of a residential complex on North Bridge Street. Read More: Woman Found Fatally Stabbed Outside Somerville Housing Complex: Police

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Somerville Officers found Fealey with multiple apparent stab wounds and began life-saving measures at the scene along with responding medical personnel, said McDonald.
Fealey was pronounced dead at the scene.

A postmortem examination was performed on Feb. 1, by the Medical Examiner’s Office who positively identified the victim as Fealey and determined the cause of death as multiple stab wounds, 37 times, and ruled the manner of death as homicide.

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On Feb. 4, investigators searched Shroitman's home, his vehicle and person where they found numerous bleach containers throughout the home, a manifesto laying out a plan step-by-step for the homicide, and the driver's door of the tan Toyota Camry was doused in bleach, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Read More: 37 Stab Wounds, A Manifesto Discovered: New Somerville Slaying Details

Shroitman was formally arrested and charged on Feb. 5, 2024. A motive has not been released, however, authorities did confirm that Shroitman knew Fealey. Shroitman graduated from Somerville High School with Fealey in 2014.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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