Pennsylvania woman charged with shooting 64-year-old pharmacy executive in face
A 33-year-old woman living with a 64-year-old pharmaceutical executive was charged with shooting him in the face and then staging a burglary to cover her tracks.
Jennifer Morrissey was arrested on charges including burglary, tampering with evidence, possessing instruments of a crime and criminal homicide in the slaying of Michael McNew, from Bucks County, ABC 6 reported.
The pair began living with each other in 2015 but recently had a falling out. According to court documents, he wanted her out of the house, which likely sparked the deadly confrontation.
McNew reportedly told her he’d be boxing up her belongings and sending them to storage.
Authorities found the father and grandfather dead in a chair in his Pennsylvania home — along the Delaware River — on Aug. 8
Investigators were able to recover a series of threatening texts from Morrissey to McNew, sent the same day, according to CBS Philadelphia.
“Get the gun ready cause I’m coming, I already told you I’d be there tonight … guess you’re just going to have to shoot me,” she allegedly texted. “You have a choice. Touch my stuff or I’ll cut your throat.” According to Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, another text reads: “I’ll gut you like I’m field dressing a [expletive] deer.”
Investigators would not elaborate on the details of Morrissey’s relationship with the executive, though she did indicate he’d been financially supporting her, investigators told NBC.
“It’s safe to assume there was a relationship between Mr. McNew and Ms. Morrissey,” Weintraub said. “It’s not disputed that Ms. Morrissey did have a boyfriend other than Mr. McNew.”
McNew reportedly threatened to give the FBI information on her boyfriend — he has not been charged, though officials believe she tried to cast suspicion on him initially. Investigators said it appeared Morrissey took great care in covering up the crime. She allegedly staged a robbery scene, stealing a laptop and cellphone, as well as deleting all her text messages.
In an interview with police, the 33-year-old suspect tearfully said McNew took care of her and that he didn’t deserve to die.
Morrissey was being held at the Bucks County jail without bail and is slated to appear in court on Oct. 16.