A Middlesex County woman has been charged in the heinous killing and sexual assault of a 70-year-old woman found dead in an apartment on Wednesday.
Caroline Beckert, 40, faces charges of murder, aggravated sexual assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
Jo Ann Cullinan, of Old Bridge, was found dead in a residence after police received a call from Beckert saying she had killed someone, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
The affidavit alleges that Beckert and Cullinan were “acquaintances” and that the woman used a knife and a hard object, a drawer, to kill the woman. It also alleges Beckert sexually assaulted Cullinan with an umbrella. She also stole $15, according to the affidavit from county Detective Erik Larsen.
Police recovered the knife, as well as a bloody umbrella and clothing, according to the affidavit.
Investigators swarmed the apartment complex around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday though it’s not clear when Cullinan was killed.
According to the police report first obtained by NJ.com, Beckert allegedly used the knife and the heavy wooden drawer to stab and bludgeon Cullinan. During the course of the murder, Beckert allegedly sexually assaulted the older woman with an umbrella, police allege.
Woman charged in sick murder, sexual assault of senior citizen
The victim was found dead in the Glenwood Apartments in Old Bridge on Wednesday night
www.nj.com