Local News- Mullica Township's rural nature possibly assisted slaying

Posted: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7:44 pm

By LEE PROCIDA Staff WriterpressofAtlanticCity.com 

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office has ruled the death a homicide, but no more information has been released and the investigation continues. It was the seventh homicide this year in Atlantic County, but the first in Mullica since 1999.

While the township is relatively peaceful, some locals say they have felt targeted by criminals in recent years because of their area's isolated and unsuspecting nature. A spree of burglaries about a year ago caused residents to start a town watch group, and they still meet regularly.

Penny Hartwell, one of the group's co-founders, sent a message to her email list Tuesday afternoon saying she had unofficial information that police had several clues in the case.

There was little activity outside the Kingsbury home Tuesday after police were gathered there the two previous days looking for evidence. Neighbors were still waiting to hear any news.

Debbie Daub said she was taking a nap Sunday afternoon before the Super Bowl and woke up to a crowd gathered on her street. The body was found at about 3 p.m. by a household member, police said.

"I'm surprised you wouldn't hear a gunshot," Daub said Tuesday.

Woodland Avenue runs south off Nesco Road in the township's Nesco section, an area blanketed in a patchwork of fruit and vegetable fields that continues into northern Hammonton.

Glenn Kingsbury was living in Laurel Springs Borough, Camden County, before buying the Mullica home, property records show. His address in Laurel Springs is the same for the cheerleading company he runs, Cheer Tech.

John Kingsbury had been listed as the registered agent for another company, Complete Competition, with the same address.

But John Kingsbury had only recently moved into the Woodland Avenue home, neighbors said and property records show. Neighbors said he had been living in California and moved to New Jersey when he had health problems, and public records indicate he had been staying in Escondido, San Diego County.

Knowing little about the situation, locals said they hoped it was an isolated incident.

The last homicide in the township happened about a mile and a half away, when a 23-year-old man stabbed a 14-year-old Oakcrest High School freshman to death when she rejected his sexual advances.

In that case, neighbors heard the victim, Jasmine Rivera, screaming for help at the Lakeview Drive home where she was baby-sitting. Hours later, police arrested the killer, Roberto Maldonado, Rivera's stepfather's brother, who eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.

Maldonado was sentenced in 2000 to 33 years in state prison. He will not have a chance for parole until the 30th year of his sentence.

Contact Lee Procida: