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Fred J. Neulander (August 14, 1941 – April 17, 2024) was an American Reform rabbi from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, who was convicted of hiring two men to murder his wife, Carol Neulander, in 1994. He died while serving a prison term of 30 years to life at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey.[1]
Fred Neulander | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 14, 1941 |
| Died | April 17, 2024 (aged 82) Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Spouse | Carol Neulander |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (1994) |
| Criminal penalty | 30 years to Life |
| Details | |
| Victims | Carol Neulander |
| Imprisoned at | New Jersey State Prison |
Biography
editNeulander was the founding rabbi of the Congregation M'Kor Shalom Reform Temple in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It opened in the summer of 1974. Previously, he had been the assistant rabbi at Temple Emanuel, also in Cherry Hill. Neulander graduated from Trinity College in 1963.
In 2002, Neulander was convicted of paying congregant Len Jenoff and drifter Paul Daniels $30,000 (in some sources, $18,000)[2] for the November 1, 1994 murder of his wife, Carol.[3] The case became a media circus and was broadcast live on CourtTV. In February 1995, he resigned as Rabbi from Congregation M'Kor Shalom.[4]
At the time of his wife's murder, Neulander had been involved in a two-year affair with Philadelphia radio personality Elaine Soncini. The affair began after he visited Soncini's Jewish husband, Ken Garland, in the hospital and later officiated at Garland's funeral. Soncini, who was Catholic, converted to Judaism and joined M'Kor Shalom as a member during their affair.[5]
Neulander died on April 17, 2024, at the age of 82.[6]
Trials
editTried before Judge Linda G. Baxter in 2001, the first trial resulted in a hung jury.[7] It had been empaneled in Camden County, New Jersey.
Due to the intense media coverage in Camden County, the re-trial was moved to Monmouth County. At the 2002 re-trial, Neulander was defended by Mt. Holly attorney Mike Riley. In Monmouth, Neulander was found guilty. His son Matthew, whose testimony at the first trial had been lukewarm, was by the time of the second trial thoroughly convinced of his father's guilt.[8][9] Following the verdict, Assistant Prosecutor Jim Lynch submitted to the jury the question of whether or not the death penalty should be sought. The jury panel decided not to recommend the death penalty. Neulander was sentenced to serve 30 years to life at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. In an interview by ABC's Barbara Walters after his incarceration, he told her "You have no idea how much rage I have." He was also saddened that two of his three adult children testified against him.
Appeal
editIn December 2006, the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division affirmed Fred Neulander's conviction on appeal.[3]
His appellate counsel had argued that the trial court had erred in not permitting Neulander to argue a third party liability defense based on a similar home invasion burglary murder that had occurred in Cherry Hill. Neulander had also argued court error on the issue of double or triple layer "hearsay" evidence, i.e., the out-of-court statement by Carol Neulander as elicited by and through her daughter, about the telephone conversation involving the "bathroom man". Although an appeal and post-conviction relief application were planned, Neulander's best chance at a new trial had been lost. He was incarcerated in the New Jersey State Prison at the time of his death.[10]
References
edit- ^ Lai, Jonathan; Lubrano, Alfred (11 January 2014). "Prison release set for killer of Rabbi Neulander's wife". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "CNN.com - Rabbi may face death penalty following conviction of wife's slaying - Nov. 20, 2002". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b "Court decision a3616-02 STATE OF NEW JERSEY v. FRED NEULANDER". Justia US Law. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ Hanley, Robert. "Younger Son Asks Jury to Spare Rabbi's Life", The New York Times, November 22, 2002. Accessed January 1, 2008.
- ^ "Dj Apologizes For Affair With Rabbi Elaine Soncini Called Her Affair With Rabbi Neulander A "Mistake." Police Are Probing His Wife's Death". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1995-08-22. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
- ^ Silow-Carroll, Andrew (19 April 2024). "Fred Neulander, rabbi serving life sentence for hiring hit men to kill his wife, dies in prison at 82". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ Walsh, Jim (August 14, 2021). "Neulander investigators followed long road to life term for Cherry Hill rabbi". Courier Post. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ Hanley, Robert (17 January 2003). "Convicted of Arranging His Wife's Murder, Rabbi Gets a Life Sentence". New York Times. Retrieved 2003-01-17.
- ^ "Neulander Case - Conflicting Testimonies". Associated Press. 2001-10-21. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ Chang, David (19 April 2024). "Fred Neulander, NJ rabbi who hired 2 men to kill his wife, dies in prison". NBC Philadelphia. Retrieved 21 April 2024.