Delco man convicted of killing his son's mother, her mother in South Jersey break-in
Junior Edwards killed Catherine Nunez and her mother, Marisol, in October 2024. A South Jersey jury convicted him of first-degree murder.
A Delaware County man who broke into the South Jersey home where the mother of his son lived to kill her and her mother was convicted of first-degree murder.
Junior Edwards, 39, smashed a first-floor window to get inside the house on Harrington Circle in Willingboro where Catherine Nunez, 33, lived in October 2024, prosecutors in Burlington County said. Her mother, Marisol, 54, was staying with her as part of a weekly routine the two women had.
Catherine Nunez called 911 to report the break-in, but was forced into an upstairs bedroom with her mother by Edwards, prosecutors said. There, he shot both women to death.
Edwards, of Lansdowne, was also convicted last week of endangering the welfare of a child and related crimes in the shooting, which took place as the 8-year-old son he shares with Nunez sat in a nearby room. The boy was not injured.
A conviction of first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence in New Jersey, and Edwards’ sentencing has been scheduled for May 22.
Prosecutors said during Edwards’ trial that the motive for the shooting was unclear. He and Nunez had not been dating for some time.
Joseph Puig-Hill, Marisol Nunez’s brother-in-law, told reporters at a vigil days after the murder that the two women were “the epitome of goodness.”
“They’re both beautiful souls,” he said. “They didn’t deserve this.”
Last week, Puig-Hill posted about Edwards’ conviction on Facebook, saying he attended the trial and witnessed “this demon being dragged away in handcuffs to his new and eternal home (state prison).”
He said the two women “are gone, but will never be forgotten.”