Egg Harbor City Man Sentenced in Murder of Woman, Son

An Egg Harbor City man has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison without parole in the murder of 7-year-old Gavin Pabst, and a term of 25 years in prison for the murder of 38-year-old Michelle (Heist) Pabst, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain said.

Joseph Palmer III must serve 85 percent of his sentence in the killing of Michelle Pabst before becoming eligible for parole. He will serve the sentences consecutively, meaning he will be in prison for 51 years, three months before he becomes eligible for parole.

He previously pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated manslaughter in the murder of the woman and her son with whom he lived.

At about 8 a.m. on Nov. 12, 2014, Egg Harbor City Police, Mullica Township Police, and firefighters from the Egg Harbor City Volunteer Fire Department and the South Egg Harbor Volunteer Fire Company responded to a residential structure fire on the 200 block of Washington Avenue, Egg Harbor City.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and discovered the bodies inside the home.

Palmer was found outside the home. was treated for injuries and transported by AtlantiCare ambulance personnel and paramedics to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Division.

An autopsy conducted the following day determined the cause of the mother’s death to be multiple sharp and blunt force injuries, and the cause of the child’s death to be multiple stab wounds. The manner of death in each instance was homicide.

Palmer was arrested as he was discharged from the hospital on Nov. 14.

He was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $2 million full cash bail, where he has remained.