Woman charged in murder of pharma exec found in chair, shot in face
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. -- A 33-year-old woman has been charged in the murder of a Bucks County pharmaceutical executive.
Jennifer Morrissey is charged with criminal homicide in the August murder of 64-year-old Michael McNew in Washington Crossing.
In addition, she is charged with burglary, tampering with evidence, and with possessing instruments of a crime.
McNew was found in a chair on August 8th inside his home along the Delaware River, dead from a bullet wound to the head.
He had been shot once in the face, an autopsy determined.
Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub confirms that McNew and Morrissey lived together since the beginning of January 2015. According to court documents, he wanted her out of the house and that likely fueled her anger and led to the shooting.
Police say after Morrissey shot and killed McNew, she returned to the house and tampered with the crime scene to make it appear as if there was a robbery.
Investigators say all the evidence points to Morrissey - and shows she was in McNew's home the night of the murder.
The District Attorney says testimony from several informants and threatening text messages sent to McNew from Morrissey was enough to arrest her and charge her with murder.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Weintraub read the texts found on Morrissey's phone. They read as follows:
"Get the gun ready, because I'm coming. I already told you that I'll be there tonight. Guess you're just gonna have to shoot me."
"You have a choice: touch my stuff or I cut your throat."
"I'm gonna stab you. I'll gut you like I'm field dressing a (expletive) deer."
Morrissey is currently being held in Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
