Toms River, NJ – Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Manchester Township Police Chief Brian Klimakowski today announced the arrest of Janet D. Wilson, 53, of Manchester Township, NJ on charges of Aggravated Manslaughter, Desecrating Human Remains, and Neglect of a Disabled Adult in connection with the death of her daughter Rebecca Wilson.
On Thursday, May 30, 2013, at approximately 8:10pm, Manchester Township Police were dispatched to 23 Fox Street in the Pine Ridge section of Manchester Township on a report of a strange odor coming from the residence. Responding Officers forced entry into the residence and found the decomposed body of a female. A thorough search found no other persons inside the residence. The officers secured the scene and the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office were summoned to the scene for further investigation.
With the scene secure, the responding officers turned to identifying the deceased female. The investigation identified the deceased as Rebecca Wilson, 32, a disabled adult who was home bound and dependent on her mother Janet for care.
On May 31, 2013, a court authorized search warrant was executed for the residence and the investigating agencies efforts to process the home were hampered by the condition of the residence. The condition of the home would lead Manchester Township Code Enforcement officials to eventually condemn the Wilson residence, declaring it unfit for human occupancy.
On June 16, 2013 the investigation located Janet Wilson in the Reno, Nevada area. With assistance from the Reno City Police Department, the New Jersey investigations team confirmed that Janet Wilson was staying at the Vagabond Motel in Reno and began making arrangements to travel to that location.
On June 18, Manchester Township Police Detectives Al Vega and Craig Beaulieu, accompanied by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Raymond Gardner boarded a flight to Nevada to continue the investigation.
On June 20, 2013 the three detectives, with assistance from Reno City Police Detectives, located Janet Wilson at the Vagabond Motel and transported her to the Reno City Police Department where she was placed under arrest. Also on June 20, 2013, the investigation team conferred with Social Security Administration Special Agent Kristie Morgan. In that review they learned that Janet Wilson still had not reported Rebecca Wilson deceased and was still actively receiving Rebecca Wilson’s Disability/Social Security checks. As late as June 17, 2013 the amount of $600.00 was withdrawn from Rebecca Wilson’s Wells Fargo account and transferred to Janet Wilson’s Wells Fargo account.
Janet Wilson was initially held in the Washoe County Jail, Reno, Nevada, waived extradition, and arrived back in New Jersey on July 4th. Wilson’s bail was set at $250,000 cash bail only. There will be a first appearance for Wilson on Monday (July 8) at 1:30pm. All charges are preliminary, the investigation continues and the matter will be presented to a Grand Jury. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manchester Township Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department all contributed to the investigation culminating in the arrest of Janet Wilson. This case is being prosecuted by Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Michael R. Weatherstone.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.