Trio Charged In Brutal 2009 Murder Of Red Bank Teacher

(James Fair, via Operation Dead End photos; Ebenezer Byrd, via N.J. Department of Corrections)

Three men have been charged with felony murder in the 2009 killing of a Red Bank teacher after they broke into the wrong apartment, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Thursday morning.

James Fair, 27, Ebenezer Byrd, 35, and Gregory Jean-Baptiste, 26, all of Asbury Park, are each charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree burglary, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons, in connection with the Sept. 14, 2009 death of 33-year-old Jonelle Melton, according to Charles Webster, spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

All three men are currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, Webster said.

The Neptune City Police Department received a 911 call around 9:07 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2009, reporting the discovery of unresponsive woman in an apartment in the Brighton Arms complex, 311 West Sylvania Ave. in the borough. Officers arrived on scene and found Melton inside the apartment. MONOC paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and pronounced her deceased.

Melton was found dead when a family member went to check on her welfare when she did not respond to phone calls and she failed to arrive at her job at Red Bank Middle School.

In August authorities announced that they were closing in on a suspect in the case and reminded the public that a $10,000 reward was being offered by Crime Stoppers for information to finally tie up the case.

Through the investigation by Neptune City police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives learned that Fair, Byrd, and Jean-Baptiste planned to burglarize a specific apartment in the Brighton Arms complex. However, the men broke into the wrong apartment and encountered the victim. At some point after realizing they were in the wrong apartment, the men brutally murdered Melton, Webster said.

Fair is awaiting trial on a 219-count indictment charging him with racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, robbery, and numerous other drug and weapons offenses, arising out of “Operation Dead End,” he said. He is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township.

Byrd is currently serving a 12-year state prison sentence for two separate Asbury Park shootings that also occurred in 2009, and is being held in state prison in Trenton, according to Department of Corrections records.

Jean-Baptiste is awaiting trial on three separate indictments charging him with drug distribution and gun possession and is being held at the Mercer County Correctional Institution, in Hopewell Township, Webster said.

Bail for each was set at $1.5 million cash only, with a bail source hearing required before they can be released, by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley, Webster said.

Melton was a 33-year-old veteran school teacher at Red Bank Middle School who was preparing to teach fifth grade when she was killed inside her Neptune City apartment. She was an active member of the school community; as a member of the School Improvement team, the Leadership Program at Red Bank Regional High School, and selected to serve as the student council adviser.

Melton was an active member of the Christian Woman’s Encouragement Group, and was scheduled to officially become a member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Lake Como during its annual Woman’s Day celebration.

If convicted of felony murder, each man faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in state prison with no parole eligibility for 30 years, to a maximum of life imprisonment. The ”No Early Release Act” would require them to serve 85 percent of any sentence imposed in excess of 30 years prior to becoming eligible for parole.

If convicted of first degree fobbery, each man faces a maximum of 20 years in state prison, subject to the provisions of NERA, and if convicted of second degree conspiracy or second degree burglary, each man faces up to 10 years in state prison, also subject to NERA. If convicted of possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose or unlawful possession of a Firearm, each man faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment on each charge, subject to a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of the greater of either half of the sentence imposed or 42 months, as well as up to 10 years imprisonment with a mandatory five-year period of parole ineligibility on the Certain Persons charge.

Notwithstanding these arrests, the investigation into Melton’s murder is ongoing and detectives continue to pursue additional leads. Anyone with information related to this investigation should contact Detective Scott Samis of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Lieutenant Matt Quagliato of the Neptune City Police Department at 732-775-1615.

In addition, anyone with information about this violent crime may contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-671-4400, which is a confidential telephone tip line; they can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.