John Jefferson
Insets, from top left: William DiBernardino and Jmarr McNeil and Betty Jo Lane, bottom (Monroe Township Police Department). Background: The location in New Jersey where the acid attack happened (WPVI/YouTube).
A man is accused of paying two people to travel hundreds of miles from Florida to New Jersey to attack his ex-girlfriend in her driveway by throwing a cup of what authorities believe is a highly caustic acid at her, causing chemical burns over 35% of her body, authorities said.
The unidentified woman, 42, was flown to a burn center where she is being treated, Monroe Township police said in a news release. Three people were taken into custody in Florida in connection with the terrifying attack on July 26 in Monroe Township, New Jersey, officials said.
The suspects were identified as William DiBernardino, 49, Betty Jo Lane, 38, and Jmarr McNeil, 39, authorities said. DiBernardino allegedly paid the other two defendants to travel 900 miles north along the East Coast to carry out the assault.
The attack happened as the woman arrived home from work, parked in her driveway and opened the car door. A woman threw a cup of what police suspected was highly caustic acid liquid at her before the assailant fled in a silver or gray vehicle.
The victim suffered chemical burns over 35% of her body and was flown to a burn center where she is still being treated, authorities said. Investigators cracked the case after identifying the suspect vehicle, registered to a car rental agency in Florida, police said in the news release.
Neighbors recalled the terrifying attack in an interview with Philadelphia ABC affiliate WPVI.
“At first, I thought it was an animal attacking another animal, and then I thought, ‘That sounds like a woman’s voice,”” said one neighbor who went to help. “She was burnt all over her body.”
Neighbor Sahara Bair-Oates told the outlet she was terrified as ambulances, police cars, and unmarked vehicles flooded the cul-de-sac.
“Even your worst enemy, you wouldn’t think, would do something like that,” Blair-Oates said.
The suspects are being held in Florida awaiting extradition to New Jersey, where they face conspiracy, assault and stalking charges, officials said.
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