95 Years For NJ Woman Who Plotted Girlfriend’s Death, Buried Her In Backyard

TINTON FALLS, NJ - A New Jersey woman was sentenced to 95 years in prison on Friday for planning her girlfriend’s murder, then fatally strangling her months later and burying her in a backyard, authorities said.

Jennifer Sweeney, 38, was sentenced to 75 years for the strangulation murder of Tyrita Julius, 41, as well as 20 years for the shooting, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey.

Sweeney must serve a minimum of 85 percent of both the 75-year life term for the murder of 41-year-old Tyrita Julius and the 20-year term for the shooting. Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Sweeney won’t be eligible for parole until she is over 100 years old.

Sweeney was found guilty last year on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, various weapons offenses and desecration of human remains, among other charges, following a month-long trial in Monmouth County Superior Court.

“This sentencing is a fitting outcome to the prosecution of genuinely monstrous crimes,” Linskey said in a statement. “This defendant’s actions were callous, calculated, and vicious, and ended the life of a woman beloved by her family and friends. I sincerely thank the detectives and assistant prosecutors who worked so diligently over so many years to see that justice was done in this case.”

Julius was shot eight times in the driver’s seat of her car on Nov. 24, 2015, according to Linden police. Her teenage daughter was in the front passenger seat during the time of the incident; she sustained a gunshot wound as well.

Julius was later reported missing on March 9, 2016, after her mother told authorities that she was spending time with a female friend in Tinton Falls the day prior but failed to return home.

Julius’ body was discovered on August 16, 2016, during a search of the Long Branch home of Andre Harris, 38, the gunman in the November 2015 shooting. Julius was found buried in the backyard wrapped in two garbage bags, with an electrical cord around her neck.

Sweeney and Harris were arrested and charged, with a Monmouth County grand jury returning an indictment against each in December 2016.

Harris later reached a plea deal and agreed to testify at Sweeney’s trial in exchange for a 16-year prison sentence.