TOMS RIVER, NJ —Sherry Lee Heffernan, a 57-year-old woman from Landenberg, Pennsylvania, has been convicted of murder and weapons offenses related to the deaths of her father and his girlfriend in New Jersey. The jury in Ocean County found Heffernan guilty last week for the killings of John Enders, 87, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, which occurred 2 and a half years ago.
The verdict could lead to a life sentence for Heffernan, with sentencing scheduled for May 10.
The victims were found in the fall of 2021 at Enders’ waterfront home in Surf City, Long Beach Island, having been shot in the jaw and stabbed multiple times. New Jersey authorities assert that Heffernan’s motive was financial, spurred by her exclusion from her father’s will. Evidence presented during the trial included tracking data from Heffernan’s recreational vehicle and cellphone on the night of September 29, 2021, as well as her footprints in the blood-stained kitchen of Enders’ home.
Defense arguments contested the presence of Heffernan at the scene, but the jury’s decision reflects the weight of the evidence against her. Heffernan has been in custody at Ocean County jail since her arrest in October 2021, following extradition from Pennsylvania where she claimed her innocence and alleged she was being framed. The case has drawn attention to the devastating impact of familial disputes escalating to violence.