Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes announced that a Pemberton Township man was charged on Monday, July 4 with fatally shooting a Tabernacle Township resident who was discovered dead in his home on Friday, July 1.
David M. Stead, 42, of 830 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road in Pemberton Township, was charged with murder (first degree), felony murder (first degree), robbery (first degree), unlawful possession of a weapon (second degree), possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (second degree) and theft (third degree).
The investigation revealed that Stead shot and killed Thomas Wright II, inside his residence at 157 Patty Bowker Road in Tabernacle Township in the early morning hours of July 1. The victim would have celebrated his 50 birthday later this month.
Troopers were called to the residence at approximately 4:30 p.m. on July 1 after the victim’s father discovered his body inside the victim’s home. The victim operated a business out of his residence called Artisan Building Creations. His family went to check on him after he failed to show up at a job site that day.
The investigation revealed that Stead, who was formerly employed by the victim, went to the residence with the intention of robbing him. Instead, he shot him multiple times in the head and neck, then fled with a small amount of cash in a rented pickup truck that was being used by the victim.
The truck was discovered late yesterday on Coleman’s Bridge Road, less than a mile from Stead’s residence. An autopsy performed on July 2 by Burlington County Medical Examiner Ian Hood, MD, determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide. Stead was placed in the Burlington County Jail on $1 million full bail set by the Hon. Aimee R. Belgard, J.S.C. A first appearance in Superior Court in Burlington County will likely be held on July 5.
The investigation was conducted by the New Jersey State Police Homicide South Unit and State Troopers from the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Station, with assistance from the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.
