Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Jeffrey Holland, 30, of East Orange of triple murder for the killing of Tiniquah Rouse, 21, Ashley Jones, 23, and Jarrell Marshall, 28.
Following a trial before the Honorable Ronald D. Wigler, the presiding Essex County Criminal Division Judge, the jury deliberated for a day before convicting Holland on all 17 counts.
In addition to being convicted of the three murders, the jury also found Holland guilty of desecration of human remains, hindering, felony murder, burglary, theft, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
At the end of the trial, the jury was brought back to deliberate on a separate count and found Holland guilty of being a convicted felon with a weapon.
“After almost three years of waiting, the Rouse, Jones and Marshall families finally have justice for the horrific murders of Tiniquah, Ashley and Jarrell. This result could not have been accomplished without the tireless efforts of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the witnesses who came forward,” said Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case. “With this verdict today, this defendant will no longer be a threat to society.’’
On Jan. 29, 2016, Holland went to 29 Stratford Place, Newark, the residence of Rouse, 21, with whom he had a romantic relationship, and strangled and drowned her. Holland subsequently put Rouse’s five-month old baby boy in a closet in the apartment before leaving the apartment. Law enforcement later found Rouse in her apartment bathroom deceased and mutilated. The baby boy was found unharmed.
The next day, Holland went to 336 Clinton Place, Jones’ apartment. Holland kicked in the apartment door and shot Jones and Marshall. Jones and Marshall had recently started dating. Jones and Holland previously dated but had broken up. Three children were located inside the apartment when the police arrived. The children included two children that Jones and Holland had together as well as a child of Marshall’s. They were not physically harmed.
At trial, Holland admitted killing Rouse but claimed it was an accident. He denied to have anything to do with the murders of Jones and Marshall.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2019. He faces life in prison