Crime & Safety

Two Charged with Recent Murders in Newark

Woman was stabbed to death on city street, inmate found dead in his cell

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday that two people have been arrested and charged with two murders occurring within the last few days.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray has announced that authorities have charged an inmate at the Essex County Correctional Facility with the murder of a fellow inmate at Sunday. Rahdi Richardson, 29, of Newark, has been charged in the death of Desmond Sanders, 27, also of Newark.

Jail officials found Sanders unresponsive in his cell at approximately 5:40 am. He was later found to have died of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation, the prosecutor’s office said. Richardson, who was Sanders’ cellmate, was charged after an investigation by homicide detectives. He was being held on $850,000 bail for the murder charge.

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Newark police and the prosecutor’s office have also announced the arrest Zakia Merrill, 22, who has been charged with the murder of Ebony Martin. Martin was stabbed the afternoon of Aug. 31 as she was walking near Parkhurst Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Bail was set for Merrill at $750,000.


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