By: Richard L. Smith
A 71-year-old Franklin Township man has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of a 40-year-old woman he allegedly admitted to strangling, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced that Dennis J. Hall, of Franklin Township, is facing the upgraded charge after the victim, identified as Devin Hall, died from injuries sustained during the incident.
According to authorities, Franklin Township police responded to a home on East Avenue at approximately 6:16 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, after Hall called 911 and reported that the victim was not breathing.
Investigators said Hall admitted during the emergency call and again to responding officers that he had strangled the victim.
A witness at the residence also told police Hall woke them up and confessed to strangling the woman.
Officers immediately began lifesaving measures before the victim was transported to a local hospital. She remained hospitalized until June 12, when she was removed from life support and pronounced dead.
An autopsy conducted by the Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland Regional Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxiation, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Hall was initially charged with attempted murder and lodged in the Salem County Jail.
Following the victim’s death and the findings of the medical examiner, prosecutors upgraded the charge to first-degree murder.
Hall remains incarcerated pending the State’s motion for pretrial detention. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.