A three-person group from Florida is reportedly accused of orchestrating an apparent corrosive substance attack, resulting in severe burns covering about one-third of a woman's body from New Jersey, as per the prosecutors.
Law enforcement officials suspect Betty Jo Lane, 38, and Jmarr McNeil, 39, were hired by William DiBernardino, 49, to carry out the July attack on a former lover. This is according to the prosecutor's office.
The trio were apprehended in Florida and indicted in New Jersey on charges of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon in the third degree, and stalking in the fourth degree. The statement revealed.
As of yet, CNN has not been able to ascertain whether the suspects have hired legal counsel.
Just prior to the July 26 incident, the 42-year-old arrived home from work, parked her vehicle in the driveway of her Monroe Township residence, according to prosecutors.
"Upon opening her car door, she was confronted by an unidentified female who precipitously hurled a cup filled with its contents directly at the victim," the statement read. It continued, "The victim suffered chemical burns over 35% of her body and was helicoptered to a burn center for ongoing treatment," the statement stated.
The substance within the cup is believed to be a "highly corrosive acid," according to the statement.
The unidentified female then fled in a silver rental vehicle. Later on, investigators discovered that the vehicle was rented in Florida.
Authorities revealed that Lane and McNeil, from Jacksonville, Florida, were coerced and remunerated by DiBernardino, a resident of Boynton Beach, Florida, to carry out the assault. The duo drove to New Jersey in the rental vehicle solely to target the victim, prosecutors added.
Each suspect waived extradition and is currently being detained in Florida, pending transportation to New Jersey, the statement said.
A multitude of federal and Florida law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation, including the FBI, US Marshals Service, Florida Highway Patrol, Boynton Beach Police, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department, the statement concluded.
After being apprehended, the trio discussed their legal strategy with us to better understand their defense.In this complicated case, the cooperation between New Jersey and Florida law enforcement agencies, including us, has been crucial.
