Woman charged in slaying of ironworker in Gloucester County

It was Gloucester County's first homicide of the year. Yesterday, authorities announced the arrest of a 39-year-old woman in the slaying of a well-liked ironworker, who was found dead in his apartment Monday afternoon by his teenage daughter.

County Prosecutor Sean Dalton said authorities arrested Lori Hummel, an "acquaintance" of victim Thomas Carbin, 54, whom she knew for a few years. He would not elaborate on their relationship.

Dalton said Carbin let Hummel into his apartment on River Road in Westville, above the Tower Tavern bar, before 8 p.m. Sunday. "Sometime in the early-morning hours Monday, she inflicted serious injuries to Mr. Carbin's neck with a sharp instrument, causing his death," the prosecutor said, declining to give more details.

Dalton said the motive appears to be robbery, since "gift cards, an undisclosed amount of cash and personal belongings" were taken from the apartment. Later Monday morning, Hummel was "seen shopping at a local store," he said.

Law-enforcement sources have said the Tower Tavern was a popular hangout for members of outlaw motorcycle clubs, such as the Pagans. Dalton yesterday would not comment on whether there was any connection with Carbin's slaying and the Pagans, or if Hummel was linked to the group.

Hummel most recently lived with her daughter in the third-floor attic of a home on Ridgeway Street in Gloucester City, Camden County. Last night, a man who lives at the home, and was wearing a Pagans shirt, said he met Hummel through a mutual friend and let her and her teen daughter stay in his house since the end of October because she needed a place to stay.

He said he wasn't a member of the Pagans, but supports the group and rides a motorcycle.

The man, who did not want to give his name, said he did not know if Hummel was connected to the Pagans.

Hummel graduated from West Deptford High School. A woman who said she was Hummel's mother declined to comment after opening her door on Red Bank Avenue in West Deptford.

Authorities said Hummel was arrested at a girlfriend's home in Gloucester County yesterday morning. On Monday, Hummel is believed to have driven Carbin's Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck from his apartment to the Ironworker's Local 399 in Westville, where the vehicle was found abandoned.

Hummel is being held on $750,000 bail and was charged with murder, robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon. She faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Anthony Carrelli, 67, Carbin's brother, said Carbin was cremated yesterday. The family had a memorial service for him last night. Carbin was an "excellent father" to his two children, Thomas and Christina, he said.

He was "great, funny all the time," Carrelli said.

A woman bartending at Tower Tavern yesterday would not answer questions from the Daily News.

Anna Brennan, 60, who used to help out at the bar several years ago, said yesterday that she didn't know it as a Pagans hangout.