South Jersey Man Sentenced In Boss's Murder: Prosecutor

A South Jersey man has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison r fatally shooting his former employer while breaking into his home in 2016, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced on Wednesday. David M. Stead, 44, of Pemberton, admitted that he broke into the home of 49-year-old Thomas Wright II on July 1, 2016, and fatally shot him, authorities said.

He previously pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in exchange for the 30-year prison sentence. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Stead has been lodged in Burlington County Jail since he was arrested on July 4, 2016.

New Jersey State Troopers were called to Wright's home at about 4:30 p.m. on July 1, 2016, after Wright's father found his body inside the home on Patty Bowker Road in Tabernacle. Stead worked for Wright, who died shortly before he turned 50, at Artisan Building Creations. Wright's family went to check on him after he failed to show up at a job site that day, police said.

The ensuing investigation revealed that Stead shot Wright several times during an attempted robbery, police said. Stead shot Wright multiple times in the head and neck, then fled with a small amount of cash in a rented pickup truck that was being used by the victim, police said.

Police discovered the truck on Coleman's Bridge Road, less than a mile from Stead's residence, after a wide manhunt and an alert sent by the State Police. Stead was arrested the following day. An autopsy performed on July 2 by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide.

Stead was prosecuted by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Angermeier. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the New Jersey State Police, with assistance from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit.

The attached image of David M. Stead was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office