Decapitated Newark Woman’s Alleged Killer Indicted: Prosecutor

Newark, NJ – An Essex County grand jury has indicted a Newark man for allegedly murdering and decapitating a local woman in October of 2015, authorities say.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury indicted James Edwards, 57, of Newark, for the murder of Pamela Davis, 50, also of Newark, on Thursday.

In addition to murder, the three count indictment charges Edwards with disturbing and desecrating human remains, and hindering apprehension/prosecution, authorities said.

Prosecutors said that Davis disappeared on Oct. 30, 2015, and her body was discovered in a South 11th Street residence garage on Nov. 9, 2015, with her head and neck missing.

The indictment alleges that Edwards murdered Davis, decapitated her and concealed her body, prosecutors stated.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly previously said that it is alleged that when Edwards and the victim got into a dispute, he killed her and then attempted to get rid of the body by dismembering her remains.

• See related article: Details Of Grisly New Jersey Murder Revealed After Body Found

Police discovered the body at a house on the 800 block of South 11th Street after officers received a report about a “foul odor” that was coming from the site.

Authorities then discovered a body wrapped in a blanket in the garage, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

• See related article: Body Found In Newark Home May Have Been 'Missing Head', Report Says

As of Thursday, Edwards remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in the indictment on July 25.

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Photo: Newark police respond to South 11th Street after a body was located in 2015