Murder in West Windsor Unveiled per Probable Cause Affidavit

August 15, 2023

WEST WINDSOR, NJ – Startling details have emerged in the recent murder case of Elaine Murray in West Windsor, New Jersey, shedding light on the events surrounding the tragic incident. Denzel Whitmore, a resident of Hamilton Township, NJ, is now facing multiple charges, including murder, burglary, and tampering with evidence. An Affidavit of Probable Cause and Complaint Warrant, obtained through an OPRA Request by MidJersey.news, has revealed crucial information regarding his actions leading up to the crime.

According to the Affidavit, on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at approximately 8:08 p.m., the West Windsor Police Communications received a call from a concerned neighbor residing at 33 Galston Drive. The neighbor reported that they hadn’t heard from their neighbor, Elaine Murray, who lived alone at 35 Galston Drive, in several days. The neighbor also noticed a buildup of mail and discovered a broken ground-level window with traces of blood on the glass and a pulled-back screen on a first-floor front window.

Upon arriving at the scene, West Windsor Police entered the residence via an unlocked open front door after attempts to contact Murray proved futile. The police discovered numerous drops of blood throughout the house and found Murray deceased on the second floor. The victim had sustained severe injuries to her face, including bleeding from the back of her head, ears, and mouth, as well as a skin tear on her right arm. Bruising around both eyes and blood on her nose further indicated the extent of the attack.

Prior to the murder, the Hamilton Police Division had received a report of a missing suicidal male identified as Denzel Whitmore. Whitmore’s mother informed the police that her son had come home on July 31, 2023, at 5:24 a.m. and confessed to having “killed someone last night.” She mentioned that Whitmore had then gone to bed and she left for school without further conversation. Later in the day, Whitmore returned home, distraught and crying. He told his mother that he had broken into a house, possibly through a window, and strangled an unknown white female. He believed he had broken the woman’s trachea, as blood was coming from her mouth. Disturbed by her son’s behavior, Whitmore’s mother grew concerned when he left the house in his vehicle and began texting her that he was sorry and going to harm himself.

To locate Whitmore, the Hamilton Police contacted the Harford County Sheriff’s office in Maryland, where his phone was traced. Deputies found Whitmore sitting in the driver’s seat of his car in a hotel parking lot. He had a bandage on his right hand, scratches on his right forearm, and appeared unable to recall how he received these injuries. The deputies obtained consent to search Whitmore’s vehicle and discovered a fixed-blade knife with blood on the handle, as well as two loaded Glock magazines and ammunition. Notably, no firearm was found. Although Whitmore did not display any immediate signs of being suicidal, it was determined that he posed a significant risk to himself.

Subsequently, on August 3, 2023, a search warrant was executed at 35 Galston Drive in West Windsor, where Murray’s body was turned over to the Middlesex County medical examiner for autopsy. During the search, signs of forced entry were discovered, with blood leading from the broken glass window on the right side of the basement, through the stairs and living room, and up to the victim’s bedroom. Additionally, investigators found a memory foam pillow with distinct diagonal line patterns and a pillow covering with a floral pattern, both stained with blood.

Further developments occurred when concerned citizens contacted Hamilton Police on the same day to report a potential body in the nearby Crosswicks Creek waterway close to Denzel Whitmore’s residence. Upon investigation, it was determined that the reported “body” was actually a trash bag containing a blue plastic tarp. Inside the tarp, blood-stained sheets, a blood-stained pillow similar to the one found at Murray’s residence, and other pieces of evidence were discovered.

Finally, on August 3, 2023, Denzel Whitmore and his mother arrived unannounced at the Hamilton Police Department. Whitmore was promptly arrested, and his cellular phone was seized as evidence. As a result, AP Laura Kotarba authorized charges against Whitmore, including Murder, Felony Murder, Burglary, and Tampering with Evidence. Whitmore’s mother, during an interview with the Hamilton Police, stated that she had convinced her son to come home from Florida, where he had fled after committing the crime upon reading a news article about Murray’s murder. She then drove him to the police station, where he willingly turned himself in.

This distressing case remains under investigation, but thanks to the relentless efforts of law enforcement, crucial evidence has been obtained and charges have been filed against the suspect. The profound tragedy of Elaine Murray’s untimely death serves as a painful reminder of the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting. The justice system will now diligently pursue the truth and seek closure for all those affected by this heinous crime.