$2M Bail For Cop Accused Of Killing Ex-Wife In Daughter's Presence

Bail will remain at $2 million for an off-duty cop in Monmouth County accused of shooting and killing his ex-wife in front of their 7-year-old daughter, according to the Monmouth County Courthouse.

Some of Tamara Seidle’s nine children also took to Facebook Wednesday to express their sorrow after the off-duty Neptune cop, Phillip Seidle of Neptune, allegedly shot his ex-wife multiple times.

Her daughter, Kristen, thanked everyone for showing their love and support.

“I want to say thank you for all of the texts, private messages, phone calls, and wall posts from everyone. Even if I may not have answered you I received your messages and truly appreciate them. I am asking for privacy in this sensitive time for me and my loved ones. In my mothers memory I ask for people to continue to leave positive loving messages on my her page. I want to thank Ian Nugent for starting the Go Fund Me page for our family. We deeply appreciate it. Again, thank you to everyone.”

A GoFundMe page entitled “For the Seidle Family” had raised $3,015 for the family as of 4 p.m.

>>Related: UPDATE: Off-Duty Cop Shoots, Kills Ex-Wife With Daughter Present, Monmouth Prosecutor Says

Phillip Seidle was chasing his ex-wife’s car with his vehicle on Tuesday just before the incident occurred, the prosecutor’s office announced at a Tuesday press conference.

The couple’s 7-year-old daughter, the youngest of nine children, was in Seidle’s car at the time of the shooting, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

The off-duty cop, who has 22-years law-enforcement experience, shot through the driver’s side window, killing his ex-wife, Tamara.

People who knew Tamara Seidle, or didn’t know her, also took to her daughter’s Facebook page to express their condolences following the tragedy that was captured on video.

“My sincerest condolences to you and your family I graduated with your mom and we were in homeroom together through High School she was always a bright and caring person and s joy to be around (but I don’t have to tell you since you and your siblings would best) I just wanted to say your mom will be missed greatly by her classmates too.”

Rodney Smith said he had a “big crush” on Tamara, the religious education coordinator for the Mother of Mercy Parish in Asbury Park, when they went to high school together.

“I offered her prayer & strength to stay strong for her children and to seek guidance from God. We had good times back in high school between the Marching Band & Band fronts. She was 2 years ahead of me but I had a big crush on her. Gone too soon, 1981 Neptune Sr High Homecoming Queen.

Divorce papers also have emerged accusing Phillip Seidle of being violent and having an obsession with pornography and video games.

“In one instance, while the plaintiff was pregnant, the defendant held a loaded gun to her head, cocked the weapon in a threatening and intimidating fashion with no regard to the torment he was causing the plaintiff ... on another occasion, while the plaintiff was pregnant, in a fit of rage, the defendant kicked the plaintiff in the stomach ...”

Phillip Seidle, 51, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Asbury Park police responded around 11:26 a.m. to a report of an unrelated motor vehicle accident when the black 2012 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Tamara Seidle turned the corner onto Sewall Avenue, and then crashed into a parked 2002 Ford Focus, according to authorities.

The Jetta was followed by the 2005 Honda Pilot driven by Phillip Seidle, who exited the vehicle, pulled out a handgun and approached the driver’s side of the Jetta. He then fired multiple shots into the vehicle, striking Tamara Seidle, according to authorities.

Phillip Seidle then turned the weapon on himself, pointing the weapon at his head, before moving to the front of the Jetta and firing several more shots into the windshield of the vehicle.

Phillip Seidle then pointed the weapon at his head, prompting a stand-off with police that lasted between 20-25 minutes. Police officers from Asbury Park and Neptune Township police departments arrived on the scene where a brief stand-off with Phillip Seidle ended at 11:52 a.m., according to authorities

He then surrendered to officers from multiple jurisdictions. Officers from the Asbury Park and Neptune Township police departments and investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s Service were at the scene.

Video of the incident has surfaced on social media sites and investigators are urging anyone with video recordings or pictures of the incident to voluntarily turn them in to aid in the investigation.

Anyone with any other information about the case is urged to contact Detective John Leibfried of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443, or Detective Dan Kowsaluk, of the Asbury Park Police Department, at 732-774-1300.

Phillip Seidle was first hired as a Neptune patrolman on July 1, 1993, and has held the rank of sergeant in the patrol division since his promotion on Jan. 1, 2009. Seidle is a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from March 1986 until his honorable discharge in November 1990, according to authorities.

Phillip Seidle is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $2 million bail with no 10 with no percent option, as set by state Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia.

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