Man Who Murdered Baby's Mother Sentenced: Prosecutor

A Burlington County man has been sentenced to 50 years in state prison for fatally stabbing the mother of his child, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

Rashon A. Causey, 40, of Burlington City, was previously convicted by a jury of murder, burglary and weapons charges in the death of 37-year-old Shanai Marshall, of Mount Holly. The jury deliberated for two days before returning the verdict. He must serve 42 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Causey was found guilty of breaking into Marshall's house and stabbing her multiple times in November of last year, officials said. Officers were called to the scene, and Marshall was subsequently flown to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where she was later pronounced dead.

Causey was arrested two days later by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Burlington City Police Department, the Burlington County Sheriff's Department Warrant Unit, the Cinnaminson Police Department K-9 Unit, the Lumberton Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit.

At Friday’s sentencing, Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Courtney J. O’Brien, who argued for life in prison, said the case “represents the most heinous aspect of domestic violence, and the effect it can have on a person and that person’s family.”

More than 20 of Marshall’s family members and friends attended the sentencing, including two who addressed the court about the magnitude of their loss. As both a juvenile and adult, Causey has been arrested 92 times and has 11 prior felony convictions, according to the prosecutor’s office.

“Given this defendant’s enormous criminal history, and the violent way in which he killed the mother of his child, it is hard to imagine a defendant more deserving of the life sentence the State sought here,” Coffina said. “However, the Court’s sentence of 50 years makes it likely that he will never experience freedom again, and that will hopefully afford some degree of comfort to Shanai’s loved ones.”

The case was investigated by BCPO Major Crimes Unit Detective Anthony Mikulski and the Mount Holly Police Department. Anyone who is in an abusive relationship and would like assistance should call the Providence House domestic violence hotline at 1-877-871-7551.

The attached image of Rashon Causey was previously provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office