Prosecutor: ‘Fatal cocktail’ of antifreeze killed New Jersey man

Maryann Neabor, a Shamong woman accused of poisoning her brother-in-law with an antifreeze-laced smoothie, dabbed her eyes as closing arguments wrapped up in her murder trial this morning.

The defense portrayed her as a loving, caring mother who confessed to the July 2004 killing of 58-year-old Jonathan Neabor to spare her sons from jail. Her former attorney had told her that her whole family would go to jail if someone didn't confess, said her current attorney, Michael E. Riley.

"There's not a single shred of evidence that suggests Maryann Neabor poisoned Jonathan Neabor," said Riley.

Prosecutors, however, portrayed 57-year-old Maryann Neabor as a coldhearted killer who served up a cup full of blended fruit, ice and antifreeze so the family could inherit Jonathan Neabor's money and possibly collect on a $1 million life insurance policy.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano said that when the victim was taken by ambulance to the hospital, gasping for air, Maryann Neabor stayed behind for 45 minutes "to lock up the house."

That's when she discarded the Dixie cup that contained the "fatal cocktail," Luciano said.

The closing arguments were delivered this morning in Superior Court in Mount Holly, with jury deliberations to follow. Maryann Neabor is charged with murdering Jonathan Neabor of Old Bridge, N.J., and faces life in prison if convicted.

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard recordings of Maryann Neabor's two confessions to police.

In the tapes, she explained how she had only wanted to sicken her brother-in-law – but not kill him – so her family could take control of his money. Her husband, Michael Neabor, also gave a confession to police. He wasn't charged because authorities did not believe his claims.