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Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania
The 55-year-old daughter of a man discovered dead in his oceanfront Long Beach Island house with his girlfriend has been accused with fatally stabbing them, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Sherry Lee Heffernan, of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, faces two counts of murder and related weapons offenses in the murders of her father, John Enders, 87, and his girlfriend, Francoise Pitoy, 75, of Manchester. Heffernan was apprehended at her home in Pennsylvania on Monday.
Enders and Pitoy were discovered dead at Enders' residence on North 7th Street in Surf City on Sunday evening.
The prosecutor's office did not provide any information about the crime's probable motive. Enders and Pitoy were dating, according to the prosecutor, and she frequently stayed with him.
In a news release, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said, "The cooperative investigation finally determined that Heffernan, Mr. Enders' daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy."
“Early on in the investigation, we were able to identify that there was no immediate danger to the public. Following that, these detectives got to work doing everything they could to solve these heinous crimes,” the prosecutor stated, complimenting the detectives.
Enders and Pitoy were found dead of apparent stab wounds when police arrived at the home Sunday for a welfare check, according to Billhimer's office. The person who requested the welfare check was not identified by authorities.
Enders died as a result of several stab wounds, including to his carotid artery, as well as blunt force injuries, according to his autopsy. Pitoy's autopsy is set to take place today.
Heffernan was detained by Pennsylvania State Police at her house in Chester County, Pennsylvania, just outside of Wilmington, Delaware. According to the prosecutor's office, she is currently being transported to Ocean County.
Enders transferred ownership of his North 7th Street home from a trust to his name in May, according to Ocean County property records. One of Enders' previous addresses was in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
