More Charges Filed Against Woman Accused of Killing Two in Surf City, NJ

Officials say additional charges have been filed against a woman who is accused of killing her father and his girlfriend in Surf City earlier this month.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer says 55-year-old Sherry Lee Heffernan of Landenberg, PA, has now been charged with possession of a weapon (handgun) for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Heffernan was previously charged on October 5th with two counts of murder and weapon-related charges connected to a knife that was allegedly used during the crime.

Authorities say on the afternoon of October 3rd, officers with the Surf City Police Department responded to a home on North 7th Street to conduct a welfare check. There, cops found the dead bodies of 87-year-old John Enders of Surf City and 75-year-old Francoise Pitoy of Manchester Township.

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The Ocean County Medical Examiner determined Enders died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma; Pitoy died from multiple stab wounds and a gunshot wound to the face.

Authorities say, "based upon the gunshot wound to Ms. Pitoy, the Medical Examiner performed an additional examination of Mr. Enders and found that he had also suffered a gunshot wound to the face."

Billhimer's office says,

An investigation ... revealed that the victims were involved in a dating relationship, and that Mr. Enders was the primary owner the residence. Ms. Pitoy stayed with him at the residence regularly. The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Heffernan, Mr. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy.

"The discovery of additional evidence demonstrating that Heffernan used a handgun in the commission of this crime – in addition to a knife – precipitated the filing of these additional weapons charges," Billhimer said in a statement.

Heffernan was arrested at her home in Pennsylvania on October 4th. On Wednesday, she returned to New Jersey and was served with the new weapons charges.

She is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Heffernan has said she was framed and unaware she was wanted for their deaths.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.