Reward Offered For Suspected Wife-Killer In PA, Nationwide Search

A reward has been offered for a suspected wife-killer - whom authorities say murdered a woman in front of her kids - as a nationwide search continues.

Police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Jeremiah Monell. The 32-year-old man New Jersey is wanted for the murder of his estranged wife, Tara O'Shea-Watson, in her Commercial Township, N.J. home on Monday.

Even though the suspect is from New Jersey, State Police told Patch that the search Jeremiah Monell has been expanded to neighboring Pennsylvania and across the country.

Anyone with information about Monell or his location is asked to contact N.J State Police Port Norris Station at (856)785-0036 or Detective Mike Legatie at (609)358-1704. Information can also be submitted by email to the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit tip line at fugitive@gw.njsp.org.

All information is kept confidential, and anonymous tips are welcome.

Here are some of the latest details in the search for Monell:

• State Police are warning people not to approach Monell if they see him because he could be armed-and-dangerous.
• The search continues, and it is a national search, State Police said.
• The neighborhood near Monell's home in Cedarville, N.J. is staying extra cautious and keeping their doors locked, nj.com reports, as New Jersey State Police focused the hunt in a wooded area off Sawmill Road.
• The presence of Monell's truck in the neighborhood on Tuesday led to a large amount of police attention within the past few days, prompting Myron Powell Elementary School to conduct a shelter-in-place soon after, Factory Road resident Lisa Maychak told nj.com.

Shelter-in-place means typically means selecting a smaller-than-usual area, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building.

"My wife is worried about it," James Eifinger, who lives on nearby Factory Road, told nj.com. "She's scared to death and I'm pretty sure everyone in the neighborhood is too."

Also, a vigil was held this week in front of the house where police say Monell killed his estranged wife Monday morning, with about 100 people carrying candles in front of O’Shea-Watson’s Commerical Township trailer home.

Police have concentrated their efforts in an area of New Jersey where Monell is a resident:

A truck matching the suspect's vehicle description was found in the Cumberland County woods late Tuesday:

O'Shea-Watson apparently tried to get away from Monell and pleaded for help from the courts, friends say:

Read more: She 'Begged' The Courts: But No One Saved N.J. Mom Before Husband Killed Her, Friends Say

The manhunt began on Monday at 8:05 a.m. after troopers responded to a private residence on Raymond Drive in Commercial Township on a report of a woman who was dead, police said.

Upon arrival, troopers discovered the woman, O'Shea-Watson, unconscious and unresponsive. A preliminary investigation has determined that Monell murdered his estranged wife and is now on the run, police said.

He is a white male, 5 feet, 9 inches tall, approximately 140 pounds and was last seen driving a 1994 blue Chevrolet S10 pickup with New Jersey license plate X91GJV, police said.

Monell has been charged with murder and related weapons possession, with bail set at $1 million.

A friend, Jen L. Messeck, told nj.com that O'Shea was attempting to leave New Jersey to get away from her estranged husband and take her kids with her, and there was a history of abuse and domestic violence.

Messeck set up a GoFundMe.com page to raise money to bring O'Shea's family from Tennessee to New Jersey for the funeral. More than $5,000 of the $10,000 goal had been raised as of Saturday.

"Tara was [taken] from her children, family and friends way too soon," according to the page. "It is believed her husband murdered her in the middle of the night. Tara's family mostly resides in Tennessee. Please help raise money to bring her family back to New Jersey and help provide Tara with a beautiful funeral."

Here is O'Shea-Watson and her children on the GoFundMe page:

Photos: Myron Powell School, N.J. State Police