A woman from Pennsylvania has been convicted of murder after she drove to her father’s New Jersey beach house in the dark of night and killed him and his longtime girlfriend because he excluded her from his will.
On Friday, following a four-week trial, a jury found Sherry Heffernan, 57, of Landenberg, guilty of two counts of murder and weapons charges in connection with the deaths of her father, John Enders, 87, and his girlfriend, Francoise Pitoy, 75.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Heffernan was also convicted of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose for using a handgun and a knife in the commission of the murders.
Heffernan faces life in prison when she’s sentenced on May 10.
The horrific murders came to light on October 3, 2021, after Pitoy’s relatives asked authorities to perform a welfare check at Enders’ waterfront home in Surf City on Long Beach Island. The relatives were concerned because they’d been unable to reach her for several days.
Once authorities arrived at the beach house, they discovered the bodies of Enders and Pitoy. Both of the victims had died from multiple stab wounds and had been shot in their faces. Enders had also suffered from blunt force trauma to the head.
Inside the spacious six-bedroom home, investigators found bloody footprints and a bloody glove. Detectives also retrieved security footage showing someone going into and coming out of the house in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, 2021, the same day the murders took place.
The video footage also showed the person driving a large RV to the area, which they later discovered belonged to Heffernan.
Surf City Police Detective Sergeant Victor Rice said, “Interviews with neighbors and relatives revealed that Heffernan and her sister had recently been removed from her father’s will. Enders, who was known to argue frequently with Heffernan and was estranged from her sister, also did not allow Heffernan, a realtor, to list the beach home for sale.”
The home was ultimately sold for 1.7 million in January 2022, according to Zillow.
On October 4, 2021, Heffernan was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police at her home in Landenberg.
She pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, her lawyers argued that prosecutors had no evidence that she was driving the RV that morning.
After the verdict was read, one of Pitoy’s daughters, Valerie Lewis Evans, said, “I’m pleased with the outcome. Prayers do work.”
Enders’ grandson, Andrew Vero, said, “It’s pure relief, and we can move on now.”
