Detention hearing set for Ventnor woman accused of killing mother, grandmother

A detention hearing will be held next week for the Ventnor woman accused of fatally beating her mother and grandmother inside the apartment they shared. Heather Barbera, 41, had her first appearance in Atlantic County Superior Court on Friday, after being extradited from New York, where she was arrested days after the killings. Elaine Rosen, 87, and her daughter Michelle Gordon, 67, were found dead at about 10:25 a.m. July 8. The cause of death for both was determined to be multiple blunt-impact injuries caused by a nightstick. She is charged with two counts of murder, along with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and robbery. Barbera told Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury that she knew the charges against her. A detention hearing will be held Thursday to determine whether she will remain jailed pending the outcome of her case. Due to the nature of the charges, it is likely she will be held.