Woman Pleads Guilty to Concealing Evidence in 2010 Double Murder Involving Cinnaminson Woman

A woman pleaded guilty to helping two of her children try to conceal evidence in a 2010 double murder involving a member of the Bloods street gang and the Cinnaminson woman he was dating.

Arnetta Welch, 42, of Camden, pleaded guilty to one count of hindering apprehension for helping to conceal evidence at her home, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson announced Wednesday evening.

Welch pleaded guilty to purchasing cleaning supplies and assisting with the removal of evidence after Michael Hawkins, 23, of Mount Holly, and Muriah Huff, 18, of Cinnaminson, were murdered at her home on the 500 block of Berkley Street on Feb. 22, 2010.

Two of Welch’s children were among 10 defendants who have been convicted or pleaded guilty for their roles in the murders. Her children are Shatara Carter, 19, and Dennis Welch, 24, both of Camden.

Investigators believe Hawkins was killed due to his association with the Crips street gang and a dispute with the Bloods over perceived minor offenses, including the theft of a bottle of liquor from Bloods members.

Hawkins was beaten, gagged and bound, and placed in a bedroom closet. After additional gang members arrived at the Berkley Street home, he was shot, stabbed and beaten again.

Huff was dating Hawkins and was present at the time of the murder. She was murdered after Hawkins’ killers worried about her being a witness to Hawkins’ death.

Police found their bodies buried in the backyard of the Berkeley Street home on Feb. 25, 2010.

Dennis Welch pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in 2013 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Carter, who was 14 at the time of the killings, pleaded guilty as an adult to aggravated manslaughter in 2014 and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In all, 10 defendants were successfully prosecuted for the murders; eight defendants pleaded guilty and two were convicted after trial. The total time of imprisonment imposed on these defendants was 297 years.