Mother of Dead Disabled Manchester Woman Pleads Guilt to Manslaughter

A Manchester woman pleads guilty in the death of her disabled adult daughter who's decomposed remains were found in the home they shared last year. 54-year-old Janet Wilson entered a guilty plea to Second degree Manslaughter in the death of her daughter Rebecca Wilson. Authorities say Janet Wilson fled the state leaving police to find the decomposed body of her home-bound daughter.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, "On Thursday, May 30, 2013, at approximately 8:10 pm, Manchester Township Police were dispatched to the 23 Fox Street residence in the Pine Ridge section of the Township on a report of a strange odor coming from the home. Responding officers forced entry into the residence and found the decomposed body of a female. A thorough search found no other persons inside. The officers secured the scene and the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner's office were summoned to the scene for further investigation."

"With the scene secure, the responding officers turned to identifying the deceased female. The investigation identified the deceased as Rebecca Wilson, 32, a disabled adult who was home bound and dependent on her mother Janet for care."

"On May 31, 2013, investigators obtained a warrant and executed a search of the Fox Street residence but they say efforts to process evidence from the home were hampered by the condition of the residence. The condition of the home led Manchester Township Code Enforcement officials to eventually condemn the property, declaring it unfit for human occupancy."

"On June 16, 2013 the investigation located Janet Wilson in the Reno, Nevada area, with assistance from the Reno City Police Department. The New Jersey investigations team confirmed that Janet Wilson was staying at the Vagabond Motel in Reno and began making arrangements to travel to that location. On June 18th, Manchester Township Police Detectives Al Vega and Craig Beaulieu, accompanied by Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Detective Raymond Gardener boarded a flight to Nevada to continue the investigation."

"On June 20, 2013, the three detectives, with assistance from Reno City Police Detectives, located Janet Wilson at the Vagabond Motel and transported her to the Reno City Police Department where she was placed under arrest. Also on June 20, 2013, the investigation team conferred with Social Security Administration Special Agent Kristie Morgan. In that review, they learned that Janet Wilson still had not reported Rebecca Wilson deceased and was still actively receiving Rebecca Wilson's Disability/Social Security checks. As late as June 17, 2013 in the amount of $600 was withdrawn from Rebecca Wilson's Wells Fargo account."

"Janet Wilson was initially held in the Washoe County Jail, in Reno, Nevada, waived extradition and arrived back in New Jersey on July 4, 2013. The Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor filed the charges of Aggravated Manslaughter, Desecrating Human Remains, Neglect of a Disabled Adult and bail was set at $250,000 cash bail only. Wilson has remained incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail since that date."

"Sentencing is tentatively scheduled before the Honorable Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. on August 15, 2014. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Wilson be treated as a third degree offender for the purposes of sentencing. Her exposure under this agreement will be 3 - 5 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act. She will also be required to serve a 3 year parol period upon completion of her sentence"

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