New Jersey

House-Sitting Mom Killed in New Jersey Home She Was Looking After

Someone found 26-year-old Shawneeq Carter dead inside a home along Hopkins Street in Woodbury Saturday night, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said Tuesday.

The search is on for the person responsible for the murder of a young mother who was watching her sister-in-law's South Jersey home.

Shawneeq Carter, 26, of Camden, was found dead inside a home along Hopkins Street in Woodbury, New Jersey around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say she died from blunt force trauma and her death was ruled a homicide.

Police are searching for the person who beat a New Jersey mother to death inside a home she was watching. NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville speaks to the victim’s cousin.

Family members say Carter was house-sitting for her sister-in-law who was not home at the time. They also say Carter's 5-year-old son and another child were with her inside the home at the time of her murder.

"It was a sad scene because the little boys found the mother in the house and everything," said Aryeon Walker, a neighbor.

Shawneeq Carter
Shawneeq Carter

Detectives searched through the home Wednesday and spoke to residents. They have not yet revealed whether the crime was random or if Carter was specifically targeted. Meanwhile, Carter's family is in mourning.

"It's a heartbreaking reality that pains me," said Carter's cousin Derrick Parks.

Investigators asked anyone with information to call prosecutor’s office Detective Warren Rivell at 856-384-5625 or Woodbury police Det. Carl Villone at 856-845-0065.

"Whoever you are, I forgive you," Parks said. "My family forgives you and we just want to see justice be done."

A vigil for Carter will be held Thursday night.

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