A New Jersey man who authorities said stomped his friend to death during an argument over religion was sentenced to 65 years behind bars, officials said Friday.
Corey James Malloy, 45, of Camden, was convicted of first-degree murder earlier this year in the death of Nathaniel Perry nearly five years ago.
Perry was found by Camden County Police “unconscious, bleeding heavily from his head, and in a pool of his own blood” after an attack on Sept. 26, 2019, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.
Two people who witnessed the attack told investigators they saw Malloy punching Perry several times and stomping his head repeatedly.
The beating only stopped after the witnesses intervened, according to the prosecutor’s office. The victim was taken to Cooper University Hospital for treatment but died a few weeks later.
Malloy was located later in the area, Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay said. His sneakers tested positive for the presence of Perry’s blood.
According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ.com, Malloy told investigators he’d had “a verbal dispute with Mr. Perry about their religious beliefs.”
He allegedly also admitted that “during the argument he punched Mr. Perry with a closed first and slammed him on the ground. Mr. Malloy further stated that once Mr. Perry was on the ground, he stomped on Mr. Perry’s head until he was unconscious.”
Malloy was initially charged with aggravated assault. The charge was upgraded to murder a few weeks later, the Courier Post reported.
On April 17, 2024, a jury in Camden County Superior Court found Malloy guilty of first-degree murder.
On Friday he was sentenced to 65 years in New Jersey State Prison under the “No Early Release Act,” MacAulay said, meaning he’ll be required to serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.