Man Accused Of Fatally Stabbing Somerville Woman 37 Times Will Not Stand Trial

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A New Jersey appeals court has found that David Shroitman, accused of fatally stabbing anti-drug activist 27-year-old MaryRose Fealey 37 times in Somerville in 2024, is incompetent to proceed to trial.

On Friday, the Appellate Division upheld Somerset County Superior Judge Peter Tober's ruling from April 3, 2025 according to court documents obtained by Patch.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office had filed a Motion for Reconsideration with Judge Tober in July 2025. It was denied.

Both of Tober's rulings were up held by the Appellate Court on Friday, "because the trial court made its competency factual findings based on substantial credible evidence, including two opinions of qualified medical experts, correctly applied the law, and did not abuse its discretion. We also note that [Shroitman] is confined, will be periodically reevaluated, and will not be released from confinement without further court order."

Following Shroitman's arrest in February 2024, his defense counsel raised concerns about his competency prompting the court to conduct a psychological evaluation.

Dr. Ashley Strathern, a psychiatrist at the Ann Klein Forensic Center, evaluated Shroitman in May and June 2024. Strathern diagnosed Shroitman with schizophrenia and autistic disorder, concluding he was incompetent to stand trial due to delusions and illogical thoughts impairing his ability to work with attorneys.

The State's expert, Dr. Howard Gilman, also diagnosed schizophrenia and autistic spectrum disorder in October and November 2024.

However, "Gilman concluded that [Shroitman's] paranoia and delusions would not keep him from participating adequately in the presentation of his defense and opined defendant was competent to stand trial," according to court documents.

The defense counsel then got a third expert, Dr. Joel Nunez, who agreed with Dr. Strathern that Shroitman's paranoia and delusional thought processes would impede his ability to assist in his defense.

After a competency hearing on April 3, 2025, where all three experts testified, Judge Tober issued an order on April 10, 2025, finding Shroitman incompetent. The court directed Shroitman to be committed for treatment at the Ann Klein Forensic Center and reevaluated within three months.

Tober found Strathern's testimony and report to be "well-reasoned and credible" and determined the combined opinions of Strathern and Nunez outweighed Gilman's differing view. The court noted that Shroitman's paranoia and delusions "prevented him from having meaningful interactions with counsel."

In May 2025, MaryRose Fealey's mother Janet Pizzelli told Patch that she believed Shroitman can stand trial and is mentally competent. Pizzelli's greatest fear was dying before Shroitman stood trial. Unfortunately, Pizzelli, who had been battling triple-negative breast cancer since the night of her daughter's murder, died on Christmas Eve.

The Crime

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.

A postmortem examination was performed on Feb. 1, 2024, 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.

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.

Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Gerard Tyrrell said in court in February 2024 that there was "no evidence of a romantic relationship" between Shroitman and Fealey.

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