Union Man Who Killed, Dismembered Cranford Mom Found Guilty

UNION, NJ — A Union Township man was found guilty on all charges for murdering and dismembering his Cranford girlfriend and then scattering her remains nearly four years ago, acting Union County Prosecutor Thomas K. Isenhour announced Wednesday.

Matthew Ballister III, 47, was convicted on counts including first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree desecration of human remains, third-degree hindering apprehension and several other related charges in connection with the death of 43-year-old April Wyckoff.

Wyckoff, who divorced her husband in 2010, graduated from Cranford High School and had recently moved back to town with her 23-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.

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The verdict was reached Wednesday morning following a six-week trial before state Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim.

Dozens of sharp- and blunt-force pre-mortem injuries were inflicted on Wyckoff’s head and legs before Ballister ran her over with his Hummer in the driveway of his home on the 300 block of Mercer Avenue in Union Township, Union County Medical Examiner Dr. Junaid Shaikh testified at trial.

During the 12 hours that followed, Ballister disposed of Wyckoff’s body, abandoned her car in Newark, purchased approximately $75 in cleaning products at the Home Depot in Watchung and returned home to start cleaning, according to Isenhour.

Ballister was arrested on Oct. 24, 2013, two days after the murder. Three days after the arrest, some of Wyckoff's remains were found on Raymond Avenue near the Pulaski Skyway in Newark following an intensive search involving more than 200 municipal, county and state law-enforcement representatives, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutors Scott Peterson and Jillian Reyes, who prosecuted the case.

Authorities searched through multiple areas in Essex, Hudson and Union counties, however, the rest of her body was never found.

“There are no words to fully and accurately describe the depths of depravity associated with this crime,” Isenhour said. “We hope that today’s verdict lends some degree of solace and closure to the friends and family of April Wyckoff.”

Ballister spent the four years leading up to trial lodged in Union County Jail on $5.5 million bail. His mother, 74-year-old Eleanor Schofield of Mountainside, remains charged with fourth-degree hindering apprehension for allegedly interfering with the investigation by attempting to assist in his efforts to conceal evidence of the crime.

Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for Dec. 15 before Judge Peim, at which time Ballister will face a term of up to life in state prison without parole.

The Prosecutor’s Office would like to again thank the Union Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Emergency Response Team, Cranford Police Department, Mountainside Police Department, United States Park Police, New Jersey National Guard, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Park Police, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, Newark Police Department, Perth Amboy Police Department, and members of the 109th graduating class of the John H. Stamler Police Academy for assisting in the investigation and search for Wyckoff’s body.

(Image via Union County Prosecutor's Office: Matthew Ballister III, 47, Union Township)

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