A Vineland man has been indicted in the killing of his wife and an earlier attack that left his infant daughter’s leg fractured.John Jacobs, 27, was first arrested Dec. 4, after his 2-week-old daughter was hospitalized with fractures to her left leg.He allegedly admitted to hurting her while he was changing her diaper four days earlier.While the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office made a motion to have Jacobs held, that was denied and he was released Dec. 12.A week later, Jacobs called a friend on FaceTime, saying he killed his wife and was stuck in the woods in Mullica Hill.
The unnamed friend said he could see Sahlena Blackwell-Jacobs in the back seat during the call, and that she appeared to be dead.Jacobs said he was going to burn the vehicle and kill himself, according to the affidavit in the murder case.At about 11 a.m. Dec. 19, a ping narrowed down location to 870 W. Malaga Road in Williamstown, Gloucester County. While they were searching, police got a call at about 4:30 p.m., that a vehicle that looked like someone tried to burn it had been found.The SUV was found at the rear of 1920 S. Black Horse Pike. A body was found inside that was later identified as Blackwell-Jacobs.Jacobs was arrested and charged with murder. This time, a Gloucester County Superior Court judge granted a motion to detain him.Jacobs will now need to be arraigned on both charges.Both the couple’s infant daughter and the woman’s other child are safe, authorities have said.
