State Police Charge Man for Murder in New Jersey Turnpike Service Area; Accused Allegedly Stabbed Victim and Struck Her with His Vehicle
August 18, 2023 — UPDATE
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–– The New Jersey State Police have charged Dandre L. McDaniels Jr., 23, of Trenton, N.J., with murder and other offences for allegedly killing a woman in a New Jersey Turnpike Service Area employee parking lot in Hamilton Township, Mercer County.
On Thursday, August 17, 2023, at 3:10 a.m., troopers from Troop “D” Moorestown Station responded to the report of a female laying on the ground in the Woodrow Wilson Service Area employee parking lot. The victim, identified as Jamyra C. Odom, 22, of Trenton, N.J., had sustained serious injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Through various investigative means, detectives from the Major Crime South Unit and Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office established a sequence of events and identified a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) as a potential suspect vehicle. A vehicle matching the description of the white SUV was located parked in front of Capital Health Systems Fuld Campus in Trenton, N.J., and McDaniels Jr. was found inside the emergency room receiving treatment for lacerations to his hands by State Police detectives and Trenton Police. It is alleged that McDaniels Jr. arrived at the Woodrow Wilson Service Area employee parking lot in the white SUV and stabbed Odom multiple times after she exited the service area Burger King, where she was working a scheduled shift. McDaniels Jr. then allegedly struck her with the vehicle as he fled the scene. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that McDaniels Jr. and Odom knew each other prior to the confrontation.
Dandre L. McDaniels Jr. was charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. He was lodged in the Mercer County Correctional Center.
The case is being prosecuted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Charges are mere accusations, and the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Dandre L. McDaniels Jr., 23, of Trenton
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August 18, 2023
BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Brick Township Police Department reported that on Friday, August 11th, at 3:56 p.m., Lieutenant Paul Catalina and Officers Andriy Shevchuk and Carissa Pagnotta, were patrolling on the Metedeconk River when they came upon a female in distress and an unoccupied wave runner personal water craft (PWC). The female had been operating a PWC when she collided with her boyfriend who was operating another PWC, at which time she was ejected from the craft and into the water. The female was complaining of pain in her leg which was later determined to be broken.
Officers utilized a boat pole to reach the victim and were able to pull her onto the patrol boat. The female was then transported to Pier 281 Marina on Princeton Avenue where EMTs were standing by to transport her to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. Officer Shevchuk drove her wave runner to the same marina for safe keeping. The NJSP Marine Unit responded to handle the crash report.
Body camera footage, which has been redacted due to the victim’s age, shows the officers pulling her onto the boat, and later carrying her off the boat onto the dock where EMTs were waiting. Chief David Forrester commends the officers for this water rescue whose quick and decisive actions prevented further harm to a young woman in danger.
August 18, 2023
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Bordentown Township and Robbinsville Township Fire Departments responded to the New Jersey Turnpike at 12:34 a.m. for a truck fire between Exits 7 and 7A. A New Jersey State Trooper on scene at mile post 57 north bound inner roadway reported a truck well engulfed in fire. Firefighters arrived a short time later and extinguished the fire. No other information is available.
