Eddie Sykes (N.J. Department of Corrections photo)
A Mullica Township man already in prison for a brutal killing is now charged with a sexual assault that left a woman dead inside her home more than three decades ago.
Eddie Sykes, 55, is charged with murder, felony murder and aggravated sexual assault in the Oct. 12, 1991, killing of Evelyn Caez.
Caez, 23, was found dead in the kitchen of her Lakeview Drive home at about 7:30 that morning.
She had been raped and had fatal cuts to her neck, according to the charges.
Before the killing, a man's voice was heard inside the house demanding money from the victim, and telling her to take her pants off, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said the case has remained active, with investigators checking in to re-evaluate for additional forensic testing.
A DNA match was found on the victim's underwear and sent to the Prosecutor's Office by the State Police Office of Forensic Sciences in September 2023.
In January 2024, the DNA was found to match Sykes.
Sykes had been interviewed as part of the investigation in 1991, but denied knowing the victim, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
He was riding his bicycle in circles outside the victim's house the night of the killing, a witness told police at the time.
Sykes is currently serving a 30-year to life sentence in New Jersey State Prison for the 1992 killing of 27-year-old Lisa Maimone in Burlington County. He was listed as living in Hammonton at that time.
Sykes' current parole eligibility date is this coming Monday.
It was unclear whether he would have a detention hearing, since he already is in prison. If paroled on the 1992 murder, he would then be taken into custody by Atlantic County.
The investigation is continuing under the Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit with assistance from the State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, FBI and Mullica Township Police Department.
