Burlington County Man Indicted In Fatal Stabbing

A Burlington County man has been indicted on murder and weapons charges for fatally stabbing his roommate in the shower of their home in October, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

William Hines Jr., 34, of Burlington Township, was indicted on one count each of first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon for fatally stabbing 54-year-old Scott Willis at the home they shared in the Brittany Court section of the Chateau Apartments on Sunset Road in Burlington Township on Oct. 29. Hines remains in the Burlington County Jail, where he was lodged after his arrest on Oct. 30.

Burlington Township police officers were called to the home just after 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, officers discovered Willis on the bathroom floor, authorities said. He had been stabbed in his face, upper chest, hands and arms multiple times.

Willis was treated at the scene by members of the Burlington Township Police Department, Endeavor Emergency Squad and Virtua Paramedics prior to being transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he was listed in critical condition after being admitted.

Hines fled the apartment but was captured the following day, police said. He was initially charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Willis died on Nov. 4, and charges were upgraded afterward. An autopsy performed by the Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds.

The attached image of William Hines Jr. was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office