Mom Convinces Son To Surrender In Death Of Mercer Woman: Affidavit

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County mother informed authorities that her "suicidal" son had confessed to killing a 71-year-old woman in West Windsor and she coaxed him to surrender to authorities after he fled the state, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Denzel Whitmore, 24, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of second-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree tampering with evidence in the death of 71-year-old Elaine Murray of West Windsor. More: Mercer Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 71-Year-Old Woman: Officials

On Aug. 2, just after 8 p.m., West Windsor police went to a residence on Galston Drive after neighbors went to conduct a well-being check on Murray who lived alone, and noticed evidence of a break-in, authorities said. More: 71-Year-Old Found Dead In Mercer After Suspected Home Break-In: Cops

Officers entered the home and found Murray, 71, lying dead on the floor of a second-floor bedroom.

A neighbor called the police after she did not see Murray for a few days and noticed her mail piling up. The same neighbor also noticed a broken ground-level window leading to the basement with traces of blood on the glass, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Murray might have been killed either on July 30 or 31.

On July 31, Whitmore’s mother called Hamilton Police telling them her son was suicidal and missing. She told police Whitmore said he was "going on the run" because he strangled an "unknown white female" the previous evening.

Whitmore arrived home at 5:24 a.m. and made the admission to his mother. After that, he went to bed and the mother left for school, according to the affidavit.

Later that day, Whitmore began searching news websites to find a report of the incident, the mother told authorities.

Whitmore told his mother that he was highly intoxicated at the time of the incident and believed it may have occurred in East Windsor, according to the affidavit. Whitmore then told his mother he could not live with the guilt and was going to harm himself.

The mother became concerned when Whitmore left the house in his vehicle and began texting her that he was sorry and that he would miss her. That’s when she called the police, around 4:32 p.m.

Authorities then issued an alert for Whitmore and began checking with local law enforcement agencies for any incident that matched Whitmore’s recollection.

Due to the nature of the cause, authorities received an "exigent request" to track Whitmore’s phone. It "pinged" at 8:04 p.m. in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Hamilton Police then contacted Harford County Sheriff's Office which covers that area and requested assistance in finding Whitmore.

Deputies found Whitmore in the parking lot of Fairfield Inn & Suites sitting in the driver’s seat of his Gray 2016 Honda Accord and with his right hand bandaged. When questioned, Whitmore could not recall how he received the wounds, according to the affidavit.

Whitmore gave police officers consent to search his car. Authorities found a fixed-blade knife with blood on the handle and two loaded Glock magazines, 9mm and .357 ammunition, but no gun.

Since Whitmore did not appear suicidal, he was released, but the weapons were confiscated.

When Murray’s body was found in West Windsor, police found blood on the floor, which included bloody shoe imprints. Some of Murray’s bedsheets were missing, the affidavit said.

Later that day, Hamilton Police received a report of a "body" in Crosswicks Creek, near Whitmore’s house. The "body" turned out to be a trash bag containing a blue plastic tarp with blood-stained sheets, a blood-stained pillow, and other items, according to the affidavit. The items matched the designs in Murray’s home.

Around 3 p.m. on Aug. 3, Whitmore arrived at the Hamilton Police headquarters along with his mother. Although Whitmore did not make a statement, his mother did.

She told police Whitmore was in touch with her while he was in Maryland, and said that he went to Florida.

She convinced Whitmore to return to New Jersey. Whitmore flew back to Maryland from Florida, picked up his car, and drove back to New Jersey.

He told his mother he was going to turn himself in for killing Murray, the affidavit states.

Whitmore told his mother he saw a new article on Murray and "knew that he had actually committed that crime."

The mother then drove him to the police station, so Whitmore could surrender.

According to her obituary, Murray was born in Kearny NJ, and worked as a legal secretary for 47 years. She lived a healthy and active lifestyle, embraced environmental causes, and was a "total Star Wars nerd."

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