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

SOMERVILLE, NJ — David C. Shroitman, 27, of Somerville is accused of fatally stabbing anti-drug activist 27-year-old MaryRose Fealey. However, whether he will ever stand trial for this crime is up in the air.

On April 3, Somerset County Superior Judge Peter Tober ruled that Shroitman was mentally incompetent to stand trial. Tober also committed Shroitman to the Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton for further evaluation.

"The charges are still pending. His fitness to proceed will be reviewed periodically," confirmed an official with the court system to Patch on Tuesday.

Shroitman faces charges of first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and third-degree hindering apprehension in connection with the Jan. 30, 2024 stabbing death of Fealey of North Bridge Street in Somerville.

The stabbing of Fealey, who was described as "many things – a visual artist, anti-drug activist, entrepreneur, champion of the underdog, philanthropist, encourager, writer, and logistician," shook the entire community.

Founder of the non-profit 4TheYoungerMe (4TYM), Fealey 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 her obituary.

Following her death, Fealey's family and friends created a group called "100 Voices for Maryrose Fealey." They originally started with planting 100 Roses for Maryrose Fealey around Somerville in her honor.

The mission then expanded to be a voice for Maryrose Fealey, "Help us with our mission to seek justice."

The family and friends then launched a letter-writing campaign to "demand action from the Somerset County Courts to ensure that MaryRose gets the justice that she deserves."

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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