A Trenton man was recently sentenced to 25 years in state prison for a 2016 home invasion in Ewing Township.
According to officials, the term carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of 25 years, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
Joseph Blanche, 25, was sentenced by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta on August 9. He pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping in June of this year.
Authorities said on March 29, 2016 Ewing police responded to a residence on Manor Drive after neighbors found the garage door open and were concerned for the welfare of the female resident.
Police located the resident, 91-year-old Doris Geisel, tied up on the basement floor. She had been beaten and bound by two male assailants who entered her home in the early morning hours.
After assaulting the elderly woman, police said the suspects went throughout the house stealing money and valuables, eventually leaving in the victim’s car.
The vehicle was recovered the following day in Ewing Township.
Geisel suffered serious injuries and was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
Authorities said she died on April 20, 2016. An autopsy conducted by the Mercer County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Geisel’s death was not a result of the injuries she sustained in the March assault.
During the course of the investigation conducted by the Ewing Township Police Department, detectives were able to identify Blanche as one of the two male assailants.
He was arrested and charged a few days after the attack.
The second suspect remains unidentified. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ewing Police Detective Nicholas Muscente at (609) 882-7522 or the Ewing Police Tip Line at (609) 882-7530.
Administrative Assistant Prosecutor Stacey Geurds and Assistant Prosecutor Timothy McCann prosecuted the case for the state.