South Jersey Murder-Suicide: Couple Found Dead In Bridgeton Basement

Police are probing an apparent murder-suicide that happened in a South Jersey basement over the weekend. Both were employees of the state Department of Corrections.

The murder-suicide was discovered late Saturday night at a Bridgeton residence in the west end of the city, police said.

The victims were identified by the state DOC as Stephanie Meyer, 45, a senior corrections officer at Bayside State Prison; and Joseph Williams, 43, a senior investigator at Southern State Correctional Facility.

Officers were called to an address on Hopewell Road at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday where they found Williams and Meyer dead of gunshot wounds, Chief of Police Michael Gaimari Sr. said in a statement.

Gaimari said Williams apparently shot Meyer before turning the gun on himself. The couple were discovered in the basement of a rancher which they both shared, police said.

Police were dispatched to the residence by a family friend out of concern that she and other family members could not contact Meyer, police said.

The chief reiterated, however, that the investigation is continuing.

We'll have more information as it comes in.

Patch file photo