Life In Prison For Man Convicted Of Killing Mom's Boyfriend

A Burlington County man has been sentenced to life in prison for for fatally stabbing his mother's boyfriend following an argument inside their home last year, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

William E. Hines Jr., of Burlington Township, was convicted on one count each of murder in the first-degree, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon on his 35th birthday in September.

The sentence equates to 75 years in prison without parole eligibility for 68 years, Coffina said.
A jury found that Hines fatally stabbed 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, 2017, authorities said.

“William Hines became angry when asked to get up from the sofa so his mother and Scott Willis could clean the apartment,” Coffina said. “He waited until Mr. Willis entered the bathroom to shower a short time later and stabbed him multiple times with a knife from the kitchen. This was a calculated and extremely violent attack, and this sentence is just.”

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. He wasindicted earlier this year, and has been in jail since his arrest.

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