Doylestown Woman, 33, Charged With Killing Bucks County Pharmaceutical Executive

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A 33-year-old Doylestown woman has been charged with homicide in connection with the death of a Washington Crossing man last month.

Jennifer Lynn Morrisey has been charged with criminal homicide, burglary and related charges in connection with the death of Michael McNew, 64. Morrisey was arraigned Friday and is being held at Bucks County prison. She has been denied bail, court records show.

McNew, who lived on the 1000 block of River Road in Washington Crossing, was found dead at his home on Aug. 8 after officers were called there for assistance with an unresponsive person.

Police say McNew, a pharmaceutical executive, died of a single gunshot wound to the face two days before. Authorities found him dead in a chair.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Morrisey lived with McNew, who was not married. Detectives found mail addressed to her at the River Road address.

After receiving information from confidential informants, police obtained a search warrant to retrieve messages on Morrissey's phone.

On Aug. 6, the night McNew died, he texted Morrisey that he was boxing up her belongings and placing them into storage for her to pick up. The text went on to say he would defend himself if she ever came into his home.

Morrisey responded by texting numerous threats of violence, according to police, including the following:

• “get the gun ready cause I’m coming, I already told you that I’ll be there tonight … guess you’re just gonna have to shoot me …”
• “… I’m gonna stab ya”
• “I’ll gut you like I’m field dressing a [expletive] deer.”

The examination of Morrisey’s iPhone also determined it made a connection to a wireless router at McNew's home at 9:37 p.m. on the night of the shooting, the affidavit states.

McNew had two firearms registered in his name. One of those, a .380 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, was missing from his home, the affidavit states. A .380 caliber shell casing was found near his body, and his cell phone was missing.

Records for McNew’s cell phone showed it remained at the residence from 9 p.m. on Aug. 6 to about 1 a.m. on Aug. 7. At that point the phone began moving away from the home, and last communicated with the cellular network at 1:34 a.m. in an area of Yardley Borough close to the Delaware River, police said in the affidavit.

PHOTOS: Bucks County District Attorney