West Deptford Man Convicted Of Murdering Parents To Get New Trial

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — A West Deptford man convicted of murdering his parents must receive a new trial because of a judge's error, a state appeals court ruled.

In 2022, a judge found Ryan E. Coles guilty of killing Edward Coles, Jr. and Rosemarie Coles. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison. But Coles's convictions were reversed Monday after two appeals judges determined that he wasn't adequately informed of his right to a jury trial.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office is determining its next steps in the case, an agency spokesperson told Patch.

"We're not prepared at this time to offer a concrete position on exactly how our office will respond to what happened," Thomas R. Gilbert said Tuesday, "but it is under intensive review."

A spokesperson for the state public defender's office, which represented Coles in the appeal, declined comment, stating that the case is an ongoing matter.

At the time of their deaths in August 2016, Edward and Rosemarie Coles were letting Ryan live with them. Ryan, then 27, became frustrated after his father said that he and his mother were moving to a 55-and-older community.

Coles killed his parents that day, authorities said.

Police found the bloodied bodies of Coles's parents under a pile of laundry in their home. He admitted to law enforcement that he beat them with his fists, a wooden chair and a glass bowl.

During a court proceeding in 2019, a judge found a "consensus" that Coles "probably didn't need to submit a written motion" to decline his right to a jury trial. Coles requested a bench trial — a legal proceeding in which the judge acts as jury — through his attorney. The judge, who wasn't named in the appeals ruling, granted the motion.

Coles pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during the trial, which went before a different judge. However, he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two separate weapons offenses.

Coles was sentenced to 80 years behind bars, with a mandatory minimum of 33 years.

Despite Coles wanting a bench trial, the court failed to establish that he made the decision "knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently," the appeals ruling says.

Under state law, defendants in criminal proceedings must receive sufficient information before they can decide whether to waive their right to a jury trial, the ruling states. That means the defendant must sign a written form establishing that:

1. A jury features 12 community members.
2. The defendant may participate in jury selection.
3. Convictions require a unanimous jury decision.
4. If a defendant waives their right to a jury trial, a judge will determine their guilt or innocence.

Trial judges must then speak with the defendant to determine that they're making an informed decision. But the court didn't get Coles's decision in writing, and the judge only orally communicated the fourth principle, the ruling says.

The court also failed to explain its reasoning for granting Coles's motion for a bench trial, according to the ruling.

Coles, 36, is currently incarcerated at New Jersey State Prison.