South Jersey Woman Burned In Acid Attack; Florida Man Hired Pair To Do It: Prosecutor

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Monroe Township woman suffered severe chemical burns in an apparent acid attack outside her home. A Florida man paid two people to carry out the attempted murder, authorities said Tuesday.

Three Florida residents face charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, for the July 26 incident outside the woman's home, authorities said. One of the suspects, William DiBernardino, had a prior relationship with the victim, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office (GCPO).

Just before the attack, the victim returned home from work and parked in her driveway at the Forest Hills development. As she opened her car door, an unknown woman approached the victim and threw a cup of liquid at her, the GCPO said. The unknown assailant then fled the area in a silver/gray vehicle, according to law enforcement.

The victim sustained chemical burns on 35 percent of her body, authorities said. She was airlifted to a burn center, where she's still undergoing treatment as of Tuesday.

Authorities believe the liquid was a highly caustic acid.

Investigators later identified the suspect vehicle, which was registered to and rented from a Florida rental agency, the GCPO said. They determined that DiBernardino recruited and paid Betty Jo Lane and Jmarr McNeil to carry out the attack.

Lane and McNeil traveled in the rental vehicle to travel to New Jersey for that reason, the GCPO said.

DiBernardino, 49, of Boynton Beach; Lane, 38, of Jacksonville; and McNeil, 39, of Jacksonville, were arrested in Florida and charged with the following:

• conspiracy to commit murder (first-degree)
• attempted murder (first-degree)
• aggravated assault (second-degree)
• possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (third-degree)
• stalking (fourth-degree)

The suspects waived extradition and will be brought to New Jersey.

Monroe police and the GCPO spearheaded the investigation, with assistance from law enforcement agencies from the local to federal levels in New Jersey and Florida, along with forensic labs.

"This exhaustive, complex and far-reaching investigation has been and continues to be a total team effort," the GCPO said in a statement.

Witnesses and anyone with information on this case can call GCPO Det. Jordan Plitt at 856-384-5583 or Det. Jennifer Skala of the Monroe Township Police Department at 856-728-9800 ext. 534. Tips can also be emailed to the prosecutor's office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.