Tara O'Shea begged the courts to let her get away from her abusive husband, but was not allowed to move out of state because they shared children, a friend said.
Now, Jeremiah Monell is wanted for murder in his estranged wife's death.
State Police were called just after 8 a.m. Monday to the Commercial Township home O'Shea and her children shared on Raymond Drive, where they found the 36-year-old mother unconscious and unresponsive.
Law enforcement has released no details about how O'Shea died. Their focus now is on catching Monell, 32, who is on the run charged with murder and weapons offenses, State Police said.
But friends say O'Shea it was done in front of at least one of the couple's two children.
"My friend went to the courts begging for their help," Vicki Hanby-Candelas wrote on Facebook. "She told the judge that she fears for her life and he WILL kill her! The judge would not allow her to move because they had children together. Last night he killed her in FRONT of her children!"
Hanby-Candelas said she did not know who the judge was.
Friends and family
told 6ABC that O'Shea's estranged husband slit her throat, killing her, in front of their 12-year-old son. Monell, who is from Cedarville,
State Police have not released details of the killing, which they did not confirm was a homicide until Monday night.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae could not comment specifically on the case, but indicated there are often reasons news of a homicide is not immediately released.
State Police were working leads on the case continuously from when O'Shea was found and publicly released the information when it was deemed appropriate for the investigation, Capt. Brian Polite said.
Webb-McRae did not expect more information to come out, unless it's to announce Monell's arrest.
"This is an active investigation and we're encouraging anyone who has any information about Mr. Monell's whereabouts to give us a call," she said.
She would not comment on the couple's children or where they are.
Monell is described as a 5-foot-9 white male weighing about 140 pounds.
He was last seen driving a 1994 blue Chevrolet S10 pickup with New Jersey license plates X91GJV.
His bail is set at $1 million.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for O'Shea.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Port Norris Station at 856-785-0036. Anonymous tips are welcome.
