Pemberton Township police recently arrested a man and charged him with murder for allegedly killing his own mother.
According to Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Pemberton Township Police Chief David Jantas, 44-year-old Herbert Rowlette called police at approximately 5:40 p.m. to notify them that his 71-year-old mother, Maryanne Rowlette, had been killed. Officers arrived on the scene and reportedly found Mrs. Rowlette’s dead body on the living room floor.
Authorities believe that only the victim and her son were present in the home at the time of the murder, which ultimately led them to charge Mr. Rowlette with his mother’s murder. However, they have yet to release the results of the autopsy report or to establish the defendant’s alleged motive.
Mr. Rowlette, whose bail was set at $500,000, will be subject to extremely severe punishment if he is ultimately convicted of the charges. In New Jersey, homicide (murder) offenses are governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, and are classified as first degree crimes, which are typically punishable by a maximum term of 20 years to be served in New Jersey State Prison. However, because of the seriousness of a homicide offense, a person found guilty of this crime may be sentenced to a term of incarceration ranging from 30 years to life under New Jersey law. In addition, a conviction for murder will result in a minimum 30-year period of parole ineligibility for the defendant.
For more information pertaining to this case, access the following article: Pemberton man charged with killing his mother