By: Richard L. Smith
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone revealed that Marcus Wright, 27, from Beaufort, South Carolina, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
This sentencing comes as a result of Wright's involvement in the fatal shooting of an Edison Speedway employee on December 20, 2018.
Marcus Wright was convicted on September 12, 2023, for the murder of 38-year-old John Bertram from the Fords section of Woodbridge.
Alongside the murder conviction, Wright was found guilty of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Olya Quinnam, another Beaufort resident aged 26, had earlier pled guilty to a charge of first-degree armed robbery related to the same case on September 26, 2019.
The conviction followed a two-week trial beginning on September 5, 2023, during which Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutors Lynne Seborowski and Caitlin Lavery presented compelling evidence.
They demonstrated that Wright, armed with a handgun, entered the Edison Speedway Gas station and demanded the clerk, John Bertram, to hand over the money from the register.
After receiving the money, Wright fatally shot Bertram.
It was revealed that Quinnam was with Wright during the robbery but remained outside while Wright committed the murder inside the store.
The investigation leading to these convictions was spearheaded by a dedicated team from both the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the Edison Police Department, showcasing collaborative efforts to ensure justice was served.
On March 4, 2024, Superior Court Judge Andrea G. Carter sentenced Wright to life without parole for first-degree murder, with concurrent sentences for the other charges, cementing the consequences of his actions on that fateful day in December 2018.
