A Pleasantville woman is charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of an Atlantic City woman Wednesday morning, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
Authorization charged Rollie Ellis, 28, is with first-degree Murder, first degree Attempted Murder and third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
According to officials, on April 11, 2018, at approximately 6:35 a.m., Raphy Rodriguez, 34, and his wife Jennifer Rodriguez, 34, were in their apartment located at 3 South Iowa Avenue, Atlantic City, also present in the apartment was Rollie Ellis, 28, when an altercation took place where Ellis stabbed both Raphy Rodriguez and Jennifer Rodriguez.
Police said Jennifer Rodriguez was able to escape the apartment and run to the Atlantic City Police Department, which is located across the street from the apartment complex. Officers found Jennifer Rodriguez in the lobby of the Public Safety Building unresponsive and bleeding from the stab wound to the back of the head/neck.
EMS transported Jennifer Rodriguez to AtlantiCare City Campus where she was later pronounced deceased. Raphy Rodriguez was also able to escape the apartment and flag down an Atlantic City Police officer on Iowa Ave. He was transported to the hospital with several serious stab wounds and he is expected to survive these injuries.
This was a joint investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Atlantic City Police Department. Ellis is in custody at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.