SURF CITY – A Pennsylvania woman charged with murdering her father and his girlfriend in their Surf City home is now being charged for possessing a handgun, officials stated.
On October 20, Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, was charged with Possession of a Weapon, specifically a handgun, for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Previously, she was charged on October 5 with two counts of Murder in connection with the deaths of John Enders, 87, of Surf City, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester. She was also charged on that date with Possession of a Weapon, in this case a knife, for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of Weapon.
Police had found Enders and Pitoy dead with multiple stab wounds on October 3 in their home on North 7th Street after conducting a welfare check. The next day, Heffernan was arrested at her Pennsylvania home after police determined her responsible for their deaths.
On October 4, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Enders and determined the cause of his death to be multiple stab wounds with severance of the right carotid artery and blunt force trauma; the manner of death was ruled to be a homicide.
On October 5, a post-mortem examination of Pitoy determined the cause of her death to be multiple stab wounds as well as a gunshot wound to the face; the manner of her death was likewise ruled a homicide.
After seeing the gunshot wound on Pitoy, the Medical Examiner performed an additional examination of Enders and found that he also suffered a gunshot wound to the face.
“The discovery of additional evidence demonstrating that Heffernan used a handgun in the commission of this crime – in addition to a knife – precipitated the filing of these additional weapons charges,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated.
Heffernan is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Cassella commend the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Surf City Police Department, Long Beach Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, Ocean County Motor Vehicle Services, Pennsylvania State Police, Collegeville (Pennsylvania) Police Department, Horsham Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department, Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney’s Office, Chester County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police, and North East (Maryland) Police Department, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Heffernan’s apprehension.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
