Attorney: DNA Facts Will Prove Morris County Teacher Didn't Kill Retired Cop

A defense attorney for the Mt. Olive woman accused of shooting and killing a retired police officer in her Morris County home said DNA evidence from the victim’s clothing and fingernails will prove his client’s evidence.

According to nj.com, attorney Ed Bilinkas, representing Virginia Vertetis, told a Superior Court Judge in Morristown Tuesday “the DNA taken off of his body will prove,” his client’s innocence.

Vertetis, 52, is charged with the murder of Patrick Gilhuley, 51, of Staten Island. The two were allegedly romantically involved, and it is alleged Gilhuley showed up intoxicated to Vertetis’s home on March 3, 2014, and died by multiple gunshot wounds a short time later.

Vertetis was an elementary school teacher in Wharton at the time of the incident, and has two children.

Bilinkas told the court he is waiting for results of ballistics tests from Gilhuley’s clothing as well as a pathologist’s report on the trajectory of the bullets, the report said. Bilinkas also said the gun used in the incident was Gilhuley’s, not Vertetis’s, the report said.

Vertetis was arrested on March 3 shortly after police arrived at her home to find Gilhuley’s body. She was indicted on a murder charge in September, 2014 and has been in jail since her arrest. Her bail was lowered from $700,000 to $500,000 in July with no 10-percent option.

She pleaded not guilty in October 2014.

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