Fatal Stabbing Suspect Identified As Somerville Man: Prosecutor

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A man was arrested and charged with homicide in connection to the fatal stabbing of a Somerville woman last week.

David C. Shroitman, 27, of Brookside Avenue, Somerville, was charged Monday with first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and third-degree hindering apprehension in connection with the death of MaryRose Fealey, 27, of North Bridge Street in Somerville.

"Since the discovery of Ms. Fealey, investigators assigned to the investigation worked relentlessly to identify the suspect involved," said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

On Sunday, Feb. 4, investigators got a warrant from Somerset County Superior Court to search Shroitman's vehicle and person.

Shortly after 11 p.m. detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office along with Somerville Police Detectives and Somerville Patrol Officers executed the search warrant and found Shroitman who was detained by authorities.

The investigation revealed that Shroitman knew Fealey. Police declined to say how the pair knew each other, as the investigation is ongoing.

Shroitman was lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Patch reached out to Somerset County Jail for comment and was referred to the Somerset County Prosecutors Office by Warden Tim Pino.

McDonald commended all the law enforcement involved in the investigation, as well as all the members in the community and the public that came forward with tips as they related to this homicide investigation.

Fealey, who was identified as the homicide victim, was found with multiple stab wounds outside of a townhouse complex on Jan. 30.

Fealey, committed to her vision and efforts to empower youth and those battling addiction, was the founder of the non-profit 4TheYoungerMe (4TYM), according to her obituary on bridgewaterfuneralhome.com.

She also was involved with the non-profits Not An Easy Fix and Empower Somerset (Next-Of-Kin/NOK interviewer).

"She firmly believed that 'substance abuse does not define the person' and that 'a toxic environment does not define the child’s future'," according to the obituary.

Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 E. Main Street, Bridgewater. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the St. John's Episcopal Church, 158 W. High Street, Somerville.

Fatal Stabbing

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

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.

Detectives from the Somerville Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit are investigating.

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

• Related: Woman Found Fatally Stabbed Outside Somerville Housing Complex: Police
• Related: Fatal Stabbing Suspect Still At Large: Somerville Investigation Update
• Related: Cops Identify Woman Fatally Stabbed Outside Somerville Townhomes

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