Killer Shawn Milne Returns To The Scene Of His Crime 30 Years Later: Police

Shawn Milne came back home recently, to his family's home at 740 Fischer Blvd. in the East Dover section of Toms River.

He bought himself a car. He's been spotted waving to longtime residents as he drives by. He was a teenager when he left. Now he's a squat, balding man of 46.

Just an ordinary man returning to his hometown after many years?

No. He will never be considered an ordinary man.

Milne was 15 when he brutally murdered Barbara Renee Harrison, a 13-year-old neighbor. The Harrison and Milne families lived four houses apart back in November 1985.

"My sister never had anything to do with him," Barbara's brother Frank Harrison said after Milne was released after 30 years.

Frank was his older sister's shadow. The two went everywhere together, except on Nov. 12, 1985, when he was home with a fever.

Barbara headed out to a local convenience store that afternoon to buy some candy and nuts. She never came home. Sean Milne saw to that.

Frank thinks Milne battered Barbara on the Milne family property, then dragged her to the nearby Goose Creek and threw her in, still alive. Barbara drowned.

The girl's injuries were horrific. Her head was swollen almost beyond recognition after Milne beat her with a board studded with nails.

He raped her so viciously she had a vaginal hemorrhage. He raped her anally. He struck her so hard one of her kidneys was lacerated. Then he threw the helpless girl into the creek, where she drowned, authorities have said.

The Harrison family was stunned to learn few weeks ago that Barbara's killer had moved back to Toms River, right back to his old home, Frank Harrison said.

"My God," said Harrison, who is a teacher at Wall Township High School. "He has to come back here? He's still thinking he's done nothing wrong. I have no idea why he would want to come back here."

When Milne was released last November, Frank's mother was so upset by the news she went to stay with relatives in Virginia. He held off telling her the troubling news that her daughter's killer had returned to Toms River when he was first told by authorities.

Milne ostensibly went to stay with a relative in Garfield after his release. But he made a big mistake.

Recently he decided to return to Toms River. He did not register as a Megan's Law offender as required.

He was arrested on Wednesday at his childhood home, after police found out he had moved to Toms River and had not registered as a sex offender. He stayed in the Ocean County Jail for a few days, held on $25,000 bail.

Megan's Law registrants are required by New Jersey state law to either register annually or every 90 days with the police department of the municipality in which they reside, Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Milne also did not meet the requirements for notification of his employment status, which is also in violation of the conditions of his Megan’s Law status, Stocco said.

But someone bailed Milne out, and he's back at 740 Fischer Blvd.

Milne is considered a Tier 2 sex offender, according to the New Jersey State Police Sex Offender Registry. That means he is considered at "moderate risk" of committing another sexual crime.

Frank Harrison fully expects that Milne will be back in court with his list of excuses. He's used to making up excuses. He told police that Barbara had attacked him and he acted in self-defense. He said "voices" told him to do it. He said his brother - now deceased - did it. He said he had inadequate legal representation.

So until Milne goes back to court, he is free to walk the streets.