The cancer-stricken mom of a beloved New Jersey girl stabbed to dying greater than a yr in the past is fearful she’ll succumb to sickness and die earlier than her daughter’s killer sees justice — because the accused assassin’s trial has confronted months of delay.
“It’s not about me getting a solution. I need to make sure that her killer will get what’s deserved,” mentioned Janet Pizzelli, whose 27-year-old daughter Maryrose Fealey was murdered on January 30, 2024.
“My daughter acquired a dying sentence, and I now must dwell the remainder of my life not seeing my daughter,” she instructed The Submit.
Pizzelli, 60, had not too long ago been identified with breast most cancers when Fealey — a Rutgers Enterprise College graduate who walked away from a high-paying federal job to work in dependancy charities — was discovered bloodied and useless exterior her Somerville condominium after being stabbed a horrifying 37 instances.
Days later, 28-year-old David Shroitman — who went to Somerville Excessive College and faculty with Fealey, however was an entire stranger to her — was arrested after being discovered with a manifesto allegedly explaining his plans for the homicide.
He was additionally allegedly cleansing out his automotive with bleach when police caught up with him, and resembled anyone safety cameras caught close to the scene the night time of the killing.
However 14 months for the reason that homicide, Shroitman nonetheless has not gone to trial as his protection argues he’s not psychologically competent, Fealey’s household defined.
“His facet had an knowledgeable interview him and so they mentioned he’s not competent. Then it got here again to the prosecutor’s facet. They employed anyone who mentioned he’s competent,” mentioned Meghan Kelly, a buddy of Pizzelli who had recognized Fealey since she was born.
The matter was because of be settled throughout a January listening to, however it was pushed again and is now scheduled for April. After that listening to occurs — if it occurs in any respect — the household may have to attend even longer for an precise trial date.
All of the whereas, Pizzelli’s well being has continued to deteriorate — leaving her more and more fearful she gained’t final for much longer.
Since Fealy’s homicide, Pizzelli has undergone a double mastectomy, spent a month unconscious after an allergic response to chemotherapy, was briefly wheelchair-bound and now can’t get round and not using a cane — whereas her most cancers persists.
“It’s not the worst factor that occurred final yr, however no matter,” Pizzelli mentioned of the most cancers.
She’s fearful that if she dies, her daughter’s killer may stroll away with a lighter sentence.
“We’re making an attempt to keep away from additional delays and positively need to keep away from any type of lighter sentence that could be given simply because of the period of time that’s passing,” she mentioned.
Pizzelli and Fealy’s mates not too long ago began a corporation, “100 Voices for Maryrose” to maintain her case alive within the minds of the neighborhood within the hope of getting the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Workplace to convey it to trial.
“She put out a number of mild into the world,” mentioned Mary Kelly, the daughter of Meghan Kelly and a lifelong buddy of Fealy who’s heading the group. “I really feel like folks say that on a regular basis with circumstances like this, the place they’re at all times like, ‘Oh, they had been a fantastic individual,’ that’s all you hear. However Mary was truly making nice strides to essentially change folks’s lives.”
Pizzelli listed off quite a few cases of her daughter’s selflessness — together with as soon as giving freely her automotive to a lady escaping an abusive relationship, and in addition taking time away from her profession to personally assist her brother battle dependancy.
And she or he says one of many hardest elements about combating most cancers has been having to do it with out Fealy’s assist.
“The very last thing she mentioned to me was, ‘Mother, tomorrow’s going to be probably the most painful day of your life, after which it’ll be higher,’” Pizzelli mentioned, recalling how hours earlier than the homicide her daughter stopped by to ease her worries a couple of chemo remedy scheduled for the following day.
“She came visiting and sat on my lap. And she or he kissed me and mentioned, ‘I really like you. I’ll goodbye.’”
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