Detention Hearing Set For Man Accused Of Dumping Body In Jackson

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A detention hearing has been set for Thursday for a Pemberton man accused of stabbing a man to death and then dumping his body in the woods in Jackson.

Alan McGinnis, 27, of Pemberton, who was arrested Saturday, is tentatively scheduled to appear before Judge Guy P. Ryan in Superior Court in Ocean County at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

McGinnis is charged with murder, kidnapping, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, improper disposal of human remains, and destruction of evidence in connection with the death of Cody MacPherson, 20, of Pemberton, Della Fave said.

MacPherson, originally from Indiana, was reported missing Sept. 24, 2017, authorities said Monday. McGinnis is accused of stabbing him to death and then dumping his body in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, where it remained until March 19, when Richard Byrne, a district warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, was walking through the area, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor's office. (RELATED: Skeleton Found During Controlled Burn In Jackson: Prosecutor)

Public defender Melissa Barbier is representing McGinnis, Della Fave said. Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone is the prosecuting attorney. (RELATED: Murder Charge Filed As Skeleton Found In Ocean County Identified)

Anyone with information regarding the death of Cody MacPherson should contact Detective Brant Uricks of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Homicide Unit at 732-929-2027; Detective Shaun Clark of the New Jersey State Police Homicide Unit; Detective Brian Miller of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Homicide Unit; Detective Jason Luis of the Pemberton Police Department, or Detective Scott Conover of the Jackson Township Police Department.

Alan J. McGinnis photo provided by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office