Gloucester Twp. Murder Suspect Paranoid About Being Killed: Cops

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Gibbsboro man accused of killing a Gloucester Township man at a Boy Scout reservation was paranoid that people were trying to kill him, according to court documents.

This was one of the new details revealed in an affidavit of probable cause released by the Camden County Prosecutor's Office after 38-year-old Shawn Massey was arrested in the death of 54-year-old Joseph Bottino.

Massey, who battles substance abuse and has mental health issues, had stopped taking his medication, people familiar with Massey told police. He had become paranoid that people were trying to kill him.

They also told police Massey often took long walks in the woods, but usually returned within a day. Police learned this information while visiting Massey's home after detectives identified his fingerprints on a cell phone that was left at the murder scene.

Police said they also discovered a knife and cinder blocks with apparent blood stains near Bottino’s body, which was found in the Pine Hill Boy Scout Reservation. Bottino had gone there to hunt, as he frequently did, according to his family. Read more here: Death Of Gloucester Township Man Under Investigation: Police

During a subsequent search of the reservation, police found Massey’s cell phone hidden under a pile of leaves on a utility trailer in the reservation, police said.

On Dec. 27, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office issued an announcement that Massey was missing, and included a picture of him in that announcement.

On Jan. 19, they updated their announcement to announce he had been charged with murder in Bottino’s death. That same day, a police officer in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, recognized Massey and arrested him without incident, police said. Massey has been charged with murder. Read more here: Arrest Made In Gloucester Township Murder: Police

Massey was recently released from prison, after three years for aggravated assault and other criminal offenses, according to the Courier Post.

In an online fundraiser, Bottino was described as "an incredibly lovely spirit, with an infectious kindness in his heart, which he led with at all times."

"An enormous heart equates to an enormous loss, which the family is still coming to terms with. Joe loved his family ferociously, and his wife, Jen with incredible tenderness," the organizer of the Joe Bottino Memorial Fund wrote. "Joe was stolen from his family and friends too soon, including his two children, Jillian (Chris) and Joseph (Claire)."

As of Monday, the fund had raised $32,915. To donate, visit gofundme.com.