Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Killing Retired Newark Teacher

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County man was sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey state prison for killing 85-year-old retired Newark teacher Annie King in 2017, prosecutors recently announced.

Bruce Hay, 52, of Newark was sentenced on Nov. 8. Hay – who was known to King’s family – pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter in September, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors had alleged that Hay kicked in King’s door and tried to take her pocketbook. When she resisted, he assaulted her, causing fatal injuries, authorities said.

Prosecutors alleged that Hay had stolen from King before the fatal encounter. He also had two prior felony convictions and 60 prior arrests, mostly for disorderly persons and drug offenses.

King’s grandson found her at her Newark home on July 19, 2017. Emergency responders transported her to University Hospital with severe head injuries. She died from those injuries about two weeks later, prosecutors said.

The cause of death was later declared to be “blunt impact injuries to the head,” prosecutors stated.

Under the terms of Hay’s plea agreement, the state had recommended a 17-year sentence, prosecutors said.

Hay will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he’s eligible for parole, prosecutors said.

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