Shamong woman held in fatal poisoning

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Woman held in fatal poisoning

Monday, July 12, 2004

Police: Shamong resident gave antifreeze to brother-in-law
By LAVINIA DeCASTRO, STEVE LEVINE and MARK LEISER
Courier-Post Staff
SHAMONG
A township woman who recently taught a class that dealt with poison prevention killed her brother-in- law with a lethal mix of fruit punch and antifreeze in hopes of getting to his mon ey, authorities said.

Maryann Neabor, a trained emergency medical technician, was with the victim at the hospital as doctors tried to save him but never told anyone what caused his condition, state police said.

Neabor, 53, of the unit block of Shawnee Trail, surrendered to detectives at 3 a.m. Sunday.

She was charged with murder.

She remained in Burlington County Jail Sunday night on $500,000 bail, said Trooper Stephen Jones, a state police spokesman.

The victim … Jonathan Neabor, 58, of Old Bridge … was not married and had no children, Jones said.

Authorities believe Maryann Neabor may have been motivated to kill him in hopes that she and her husband Michael … the victim's 54-year-old brother … would inherit his estate, Jones said.

Michael Neabor, who has not been charged, went to his brother's one-story Old Bridge house Sunday evening.

"How would anyone feel? This is a shock," Michael Neabor told reporters, adding that he was advised by his attorney not to comment.

Maryann Neabor taught three adult and continuing education courses this spring at Lenape Regional High School. One dealt with CPR and a second covered inhalant-abuse prevention.

The third was called "There's No Place Like Home." It was meant to "protect our families from the leading causes of death and injury in the home, like falls, fire and poisoning," according to a description posted on the school district's Web site.

Pat Milich, the school district's spokeswoman, could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Authorities say Maryann Neabor invited her brother-in-law to her home Wednesday evening, then concocted a blend of pineapple juice, maraschino cherries and antifreeze.

Jonathan Neabor, a retired postal worker in Elizabeth, drank the tainted beverage and spent the night at the house, Jones said.

The next morning, he complained of nausea, dizziness and a loss of motor skills, Jones said.

The Shamong Township Rescue Squad transported him to Virtua-Memorial Hospital Bur lington County at 5:30 a.m. Thursday. He died there Friday.

Preliminary tests showed his blood contained a high concentration of ethylene glycol, Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Dante Ragasa said.

Ethylene glycol … the main ingredient in antifreeze … has a sweet taste, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Environmental Compliance, Health and Safety, and Security Office. As little as two tablespoons can be hazardous to humans.

Ingestion can cause symptoms that range from depression and shortness of breath to kidney failure, brain damage and death.

About 3,400 poisonings are reported annually, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The overwhelming majority are accidental and involve pets who lick it off a garage floor.

Troopers from the state police station in Red Lion investigated Jonathan Neabor's death and eventually determined that his "financial resources" came into play, Jones said. No specifics were available.

Maryann Neabor arranged to surrender to state police detectives Sunday morning in the parking lot of Palace Diner on Route 73 in Berlin Township. Her lawyer was with her, but the attorney's name was not released.

Maryann and Michael Neabor's house, a split-level with brick and gray vinyl siding, sits about 100 yards off Shawnee Trail nestled deep in the Pinelands.

Six cars sat in the long gravel driveway Sunday, but nobody answered the door or returned messages left on an answering machine.

Maryann Neabor worked as an EMT with the Indian Mills Fire Company and Shamong EMS for several years before resigning in January 2000, said Charles Burgin, the company's president.

Neighbors said the couple has two grown sons, but they knew little else about the family.

"This is very surprising," said township resident Nancy Thomas, 54. "When I heard it on the radio, I was shocked. This is a very nice, quiet community."

In Old Bridge, neighbors who live along Austin Avenue described Jonathan Neabor as a quiet and gentle man, who was cordial and kept to himself.

"He was the type of guy that always had a biscuit for a dog," said Linda Scarpa, who has lived on Austin Avenue for 24 years.

"He was modest, he was quiet, he was unassuming," neighbor Eileen Metelski added
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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bach2yoga said:
Maryann Neabor taught three adult and continuing education courses this spring at Lenape Regional High School. One dealt with CPR and a second covered inhalant-abuse prevention.

The third was called "There's No Place Like Home." It was meant to "protect our families from the leading causes of death and injury in the home, like falls, fire and poisoning," according to a description posted on the school district's Web site.

Those teachers at Lenape at it again :D

Guy
 

NewSchoolPiney

Explorer
Jun 16, 2003
138
0
Boston, MA
www.pinemind.com
It seems like in a town like Indian Mills, certain shocking events like this happen only every 5 to 10 years. Nonetheless, it still doesn't dampen the effects on the community. Personally, I knew who this lady was and always knew her to be a nice person. Of course, that's what they all say when this type of thing happens.

It's sad for the family and puts a damper on one of the most statistically crime free/safest areas in the state of New Jersey.

Justin
 
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