Man just released from prison charged in Cumberland detective's killing

A Gloucester County man recently released from prison is now jailed murder in a deadly home invasion that killed a Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office detective sergeant. 

Byron Thomas, 35, of Paulsboro, is the fifth person charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Monica Mosley, who was attacked inside her Bridgeton home Oct. 15.

    Sgt. Monica Mosley
  

“This development is a testament to the relentless efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case,” said Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland whose office is handling the investigation due to the victim's connection to the Cumberland County office. “We remain committed to seeking justice for Detective Sergeant Mosley and her family. The collaboration among all agencies has been crucial in bringing this case to light.”

He did not detail Thomas' involvement.

Three other men are also charged with murder. 

Nyshawn Mutcherson was picked up in Millville by Jarred Durrell Brown and Richard B. Hawkins Willis, before going to a home at 131 South Ave. in Bridgeton, where they changed into dark-colored clothes before heading to Mosley's residence in a black Chevrolet Equinox, according to the affidavits of probable cause previously reported by BreakingAC.

Mosley was able to shoot Mutcherson before succumbing to her wounds. He was arrested after going to the hospital, where he claimed he was shot in Millville.

The vehicle's owner, 38-year-old Cyndia Pimentel who also lives in Paulsboro, is charged with hindering their apprehension and tampering with evidence, including trying to hide the getaway vehicle.

    Byron Thomas was released from state prison Sept. 2.
  

Thomas was just released from South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton on Sept. 2, about six weeks before the fatal attack.

He was there for about 2½ years on a five-year sentence in a drug and guns case out of Camden County, according to state Department of Corrections records.

Thomas also served a sentence on a weapons charge from 2015. At that time he was given a county jail sentence of 364 days, along with a year of probation, according to court records.

He also served one-year probation for a burglary case that was pleaded down to conspiracy in 2009.

Thomas is not the only defendant in the case who recently did prison time.

    From top left: Nyshawn Mutcherson, Jarred Durrell Brown, Richard B. Hawkins Willis and Cyndia Pimentel
  

Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland, is back in state prison as the new arrest violated his parole in a case that included two counts of aggravated assault on a domestic violence victim and obstruction, state Department of Corrections records show.

Thomas is currently housed in Burlington County awaiting a detention hearing.

Brown, 31, of Bridgeton, is in the Cape May County Correctional Facility while Willis, 32, of Gloucester, is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Pimental is being held in Salem County.