71-Year-Old Man Chokes NJ Woman To Death, Prosecutor Says

UPDATE: Authorities Name Woman Strangled To Death In South Jersey

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 71-year-old man was arrested after he strangled a woman to death, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

Dennis J. Hall, of Franklin Township, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 40-year-old woman.

On Thursday, at around 6:15 a.m., Franklin Township Police responded to a home along East Avenue after Hall called to report that the woman was not breathing.

He admitted that he strangled her on the call to emergency services and officers at the scene.

A witness also told authorities that Hall woke them up and admitted to choking her.

Officers tried to perform lifesaving measures on the woman before she was taken to the hospital.

She was taken off life support on Friday and declared dead.

According to an autopsy performed on Sunday, the death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.

Hall was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder before later having his charge upgraded.

He was taken to the Salem County Jail to await a motion for pretrial detention and faces a maximum sentence of life in jail.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct age of the woman. Officials previously provided an incorrect age.

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