Search for answers in NJ mom murder case
Bryan Llenas from Fox News delves into the unresolved case of New Jersey resident Brooke Hanlon’s murder, discovered with stab wounds in her residence. It’s been over a month since the tragic event, yet no one has been apprehended, and authorities are keeping crucial information, including the 911 call and the level of cooperation from her husband, James Connor Hanlon, under wraps. The uncertainty surrounding the murder leaves the Chester, N.J. community puzzled and on edge.
Recent court testimony reveals that the Mississippi teen accused of murdering an elderly couple was familiar with them prior to initiating a tense standoff with police.
Authorities allege that 17-year-old Cordarius Hobbs fatally shot 74-year-old Billy Blair and his 71-year-old wife, Virginia Carol Blair, during a break-in on June 3 in Mendenhall, Mississippi. Detailed accounts from Hobbs’ family during his preliminary hearing on Thursday revealed his acquaintance with the Blairs before the tragic incident.
Family members provided testimonies indicating that Hobbs had previously been employed by the Blairs for various chores, such as house cleaning, prior to the alleged crime. According to a report from WAPT, Billy Newsome, Hobbs’ grandfather, believes his grandson was called in for work on the day of the shooting, asserting his innocence.
Newsome expressed skepticism about the accusations, questioning, “My grandson used to work for the man; why would he rob someone he worked for? Why stay there with police outside and only run when they arrive in full force? Something doesn’t add up, something’s not right here.”
Billy Blair and Virginia Blair were killed on June 3. (Family Handout)
On June 3, three contractors installing a generator at the Blairs’ home discovered Carol Blair’s car door open with several guns on the seats around 10 a.m.., prompting them to call the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department for a welfare check at 11:30 a.m, according to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigator.
By noon, the investigator said that officers arrived and were met with shots fired at them, starting a nearly two-hour-long standoff. Hobbs was captured after trying to run away from officers, the official said, adding that the teen was unarmed when he was caught.
Carol Blair was found in a bedroom curled in the fetal position and had three gunshots to the back of her head. Bill Blair was found lying on his back in the kitchen with three gunshot wounds to his face.
Cordarius Hobbs faces murder charges in addition to several more felonies. (Rankin County Jail)
The state investigator said three firearms were found inside the home as well as 280 shell casings, all owned by Bill Blair.
Hobbs’ defense attorney, Zachary Vaugh, argued that there’s a lack of direct forensic evidence connecting the teenager to the shooting.
“There was nothing to say he’s a principle, he’s the one that pulled the trigger on these things,” Vaugh said. “One of the things alone was, one of the victims was shot twice on one side of the head and once on the other. I think that’s pretty compelling that somebody else may have been in there. There’s a lot of things that are possible, just a tremendous amount of things.”
“When you have an officer say there’s no one that can identify him at the time of the shooting, I just don’t see how that adds up,” he said.
Hobbs is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of burglary, in addition to 10 other charges. He was denied bond.
Cordarius Hobbs allegedly killed both Billy Blair and Virginia Blair. (Rankin County Jail)
In a statement on Facebook, the couple’s family previously said, “We are crushed in spirit, bruised, and brokenhearted, but we are not alone.”
Jason Busby, who was friends with the couple, remembered them as being extremely selfless when speaking with WLBT.
“The man would’ve given you the shirt off his back, his wife is the same, and they’re just great people. It’s just a tragedy,” Busby said. “Everybody around here is still in shock. They were just good people.”