Pennsylvania Woman Charged For Stabbing Elderly Father And His Girlfriend To Death

A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing her elderly father and his girlfriend inside their home in the posh bayfront neighborhood at the Jersey Shore, New Jersey.

Sherry Lee Heffernan, 55, was charged on Tuesday with two counts of murder for the killings of her 87-year-old father, John Enders, and his 75-year-old girlfriend, Francoise Pitoy, the Daily Beast reported, citing the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Enders and Pitoy were found dead with stab wounds on Sept. 29 in the former's home on North 7th Street in Surf City after authorities arrived for a welfare check. It wasn't immediately known who requested the welfare check on them.

Pitoy reportedly often stayed at Enders' lavish waterfront property since they were dating. The motive behind the murders wasn't immediately released by the authorities.

"The cooperative investigation ultimately determined that Heffernan, Mr. Enders’ daughter, was responsible for the deaths of both Mr. Enders and Ms. Pitoy," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said during Hefferman's hearing, according to NJ.com.

"We were able to determine very early on in the investigation that there was no immediate danger to the public. From there, these detectives went to work doing their absolute best to solve these horrific crimes," Billhimer said.

An autopsy determined that Enders suffered multiple stab wounds, including in his carotid artery, as well as blunt force trauma. Pitoy's autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Heffernan was arrested at her home in Chester County, Pennsylvania, outside Wilmington, Delaware. Deputies are making efforts to move her to Ocean County, NJ.com reported, citing prosecutors.

Enders reportedly transferred the ownership of the North 7th Street home to his name in May through a trust, as per Ocean County property records seen by NJ.com. The property is listed for sale on several real estate sites and the price determined is $1.9 million. The property's description says it is a 4-bath house with 126 feet of Barnegat Bay frontage that sits on a corner lot that can accommodate a 50-foot boat and has unobstructed views, "for as far as the eye can see."

Heffernan will be detained at the Ocean County Jail pending a trial after she is exextradited to New Jersey. It was not immediately clear if Heffernan has obtained legal representation.