Investigators have identified a deceased man as the suspected perpetrator of two South Jersey murders that remained unsolved for decades, authorities announced Friday. DNA evidence collected from crime scene materials has linked the man's genetic material to both homicides, solving two of the region's most perplexing cold cases.
Background
The two murders occurred in Camden County between 1998 and 2003, according to the New Jersey State Police. Victims include a woman found dead in a Cherry Hill apartment in November 1998 and a second victim discovered in a Camden industrial area in March 2003. Both cases went unsolved for over two decades despite extensive investigation efforts at the time.
Investigators reopened both cases in 2022 after advances in DNA analysis technology allowed for more sophisticated genetic profiling. The New Jersey State Police Forensic Science Bureau and the FBI's Regional DNA Laboratory worked collaboratively on the evidence, which had been stored in the state's cold case vault.
The Investigation
The breakthrough came when investigators submitted the preserved DNA evidence for enhanced testing using next-generation sequencing technology. The analysis yielded a complete genetic profile that was cross-referenced against state and federal DNA databases.
The profile matched a man who died in 2019 in Philadelphia. The man, identified as Robert Mazzarella, 58, had no prior criminal record in New Jersey but had lived in the Camden area during the period when both murders occurred. Authorities say they are now able to definitively place him at both crime scenes through the DNA evidence.
The Camden County Prosecutor's Office and New Jersey State Police homicide unit have formally closed both cases, determining that Mazzarella is the perpetrator. Because Mazzarella is deceased, no criminal charges will be filed.
Key Takeaways
- DNA evidence links a deceased Philadelphia man to two South Jersey murders from 1998 and 2003
- Victims were a woman found in Cherry Hill in 1998 and a second victim discovered in Camden in 2003
- The suspect, Robert Mazzarella, died in 2019 at age 58
- Cases were reopened in 2022 after advances in DNA technology allowed for enhanced testing
- No criminal charges will be filed due to the suspect's death
What's Next
The Camden County Prosecutor's Office is expected to release a detailed report on the investigation in the coming weeks. Family members of both victims have been notified of the development. While the cases are now considered solved, investigators continue to review additional evidence to ensure all details of both homicides have been documented.