Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and East Orange Police Chief William Robinson announced today that the discovery of human remains in Newark has led to homicide charges against an East Orange resident.
East Orange detectives were investigating a report that Patricia A. Blocker, 62, of East Orange was missing. At approximately 2:00 p.m. on September 14th, 2015 detectives from the East Orange Police Department located Blocker’s car in the area of 23 Hartford Street in Newark.
A subsequent investigation by detectives from the Homicide Task Force, which includes detectives from the East Orange Police Department, led to the discovery of the remains in the trunk of the car. The remains have tentatively been identified as Blocker’s.
The investigation has led to William C. Logan, 37, of East Orange, son of Patricia Blocker, being charged with murder and weapons possession according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly of the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit. Bail has been set at $2 million by the Honorable James S. Rothschild, Jr., J.S.C.
The exact cause of death will be determined by an autopsy to be conducted by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, where the remains were transported.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Task Force detectives at (877) 847-7432 or (973) 621-4586.
The investigation is active and ongoing. No further information is available.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.