Homicide Occurs at NJ Turnpike Woodrow Wilson Service Area in Hamilton
Man Charged with Murder Following Brutal Attack at New Jersey Turnpike Service Area
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–– In a shocking development, the New Jersey State Police have apprehended and charged Dandre L. McDaniels Jr., a 23-year-old resident of Trenton, N.J., with murder and other heinous offenses. McDaniels Jr. is accused of brutally killing a woman at a New Jersey Turnpike Service Area employee parking lot in Hamilton Township, located in Mercer County.
The gruesome incident unfolded in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 17, 2023. At approximately 3:10 a.m., troopers from Troop “D” Moorestown Station responded urgently to reports of a female victim found motionless on the ground within the Woodrow Wilson Service Area employee parking lot. Tragically, the victim, subsequently identified as 22-year-old Jamyra C. Odom from Trenton, N.J., succumbed to her severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Without delay, detectives hailing from the Major Crime South Unit, in conjunction with the impeccable sleuthing skills of Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office, employed a range of investigative tools and strategies to piece together the harrowing chain of events. Their relentless efforts led them to single out a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) as their primary suspect vehicle. Remarkably, investigators swiftly tracked down a vehicle matching the exact description of the implicated white SUV parked conspicuously in front of Capital Health Systems Fuld Campus, located in Trenton, N.J. It was there that Dandre L. McDaniels Jr., the suspect, was apprehended by State Police detectives and Trenton Police while receiving critical medical treatment for deep lacerations present on his hands within the emergency room confines.
It is alleged that McDaniels Jr. specifically targeted Odom as she exited her place of employment, the service area Burger King, where she was diligently fulfilling her scheduled shift. Eyewitness accounts indicate that following her departure, McDaniels Jr., utilizing the white SUV as his menacing weapon of choice, savagely stabbed Odom multiple times. Swift in his escape, the suspect then brutally struck the defenseless victim with his speeding vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Imposing an additional layer of complexity to this already deeply unsettling case, investigators have established that the accused and the deceased were previously acquainted. The revelation that McDaniels Jr. and Odom shared a preexisting connection adds an unsettling dimension to an already inconceivable act of brutality.
In light of the overwhelming evidence stacked against him, Dandre L. McDaniels Jr. now faces a litany of charges, which include murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. McDaniels Jr. has been remanded to the secure confines of the Mercer County Correctional Center, where he awaits further legal proceedings. Proving their dedication to ensuring that justice prevails, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has been entrusted with the solemn duty of prosecuting this chilling and deeply disturbing case.
However, it is of the utmost importance to bear in mind that all charges leveled against McDaniels Jr. remain unsubstantiated accusations until proven otherwise in a court of law. As such, it is imperative to adhere to the cornerstone principle that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
