BREAKING: Suspended Police Officer Indicted For Murder

by Patricia A. Miller

Suspended Neptune Township Police Officer Philip Seidle could face life without parole for stalking and killing his ex-wife on an Asbury Park Street in front of their daughter on June 16, Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

A Monmouth County grand jury indicted Seidle on Tuesday on one count each of first degree murder, second degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and second degree endangering the welfare of a child, he said.

Seidle, 51, of Neptune Township, is being held in the Mercer County Correctional Center in Hopewell Township on $2 million cash bail.

Seidle faces life without parole because the grand jury found he committed the homicidal act by his own conduct and due to the existence of two aggravating factors, Gramiccioni said.

“He purposely or knowingly created a grave risk of danger of death to another person in addition to the victim; and that the murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind or an aggravated assault to the victim,” according to a release from Gramiccioni said.

Seidle faces a minimum sentence of 30 years without parole in a New Jersey state prison if convicted of murder and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.

“Under New Jersey law, an individual who is convicted of murder may be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole if the murder was committed by his own conduct and one or more of the enumerated aggravating factors exist,“ Gramiccioni said.

Seidle faces a maximum of 10 years in a New Jersey state prison, if convicted of the possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and is subject to a mandatory minimum of one-half of the sentence imposed or 3.5 years, whichever us greater, without parole, he said.

Seidle faces a sentence of five to ten years in state prison if convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, Gramaccioni said.

Seidle, a 22-year veteran of the Neptune Township Police Department, was suspended without pay after the murder.

Tamara Seidle was driving her black 2012 Volkswagen Jetta at 11:26 a.m on June 16 when she turned the corner onto Sewall Avenue in Asbury Park and crashed into a parked car. Philip Seidle was following her in close pursuit his Honda Pilot.

Seidle then approached the driver’s side of his ex-wife’s car and fired multiple shots into the vehicle. He then pointed the gun at his head, then moved to the front of the Jetta and fired several more shots into the windshield, authorities have said.

Seidle again pointed the weapon to his head, prompting a stand-off with officers from Asbury Park and Neptune. He eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.

Tamara Seidle left behind nine children.

They filed a $10 million claim against a number of Monmouth County law enforcement agencies in connection with the death of their mother.

The family’s claim is for wrongful death, emotional distress, violation of civil rights, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, guidance and support for the children. An additional bystander liability claim is being filed for the daughter who was present during the killing.