State Teachers Union Donates Funds To Help Catch A Killer

The New Jersey Education Association donated $5,000 to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers on Wednesday, issuing a plea to anyone who can help close out the murder case involving one of their own – 33-year-old Jonelle Melton, a Red Bank Middle School teacher who was found murdered inside her Neptune city apartment four years ago.

The generous donation from the New Jersey Education Association increases the pool of cash reward money available for tipsters who provide information about the case from the usual Crime Stoppers amount of up to $5,000 to the potential of as much as $10,000.

“NJEA is a family and we were deeply hurt by the senseless death of Jonelle Melton. Today we are proud to work with Monmouth County Crime Stoppers to help bring her killer or killers to justice. We urge anyone with information to come forward to help make the community safer for everyone,” said Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association.

Jonelle Melton was found dead inside her West Sylvania Avenue apartment after a family member arrived at her apartment to check on her after she did not respond to phone calls from friends and relatives, and she failed to arrive at Red Bank Middle School where she was a seventh grade teacher.

“This donation ups the ante for more information about Jonelle’s murder,” said Kevin Burke, chairman of Monmouth County Crime Stoppers. “Crime Stoppers is prepared to pay for that information – as much as $10,000 for the crucial information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible for this senseless murder.”

Citizens with information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-671-4400, which is a confidential telephone tip line; they can text "MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com