Three people who cooked up a plot to kill a south Jersey woman by throwing acid on her have been arrested in Florida, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Betty Jo Lane, 38, and 39-year-old Jmarr McNeil, both of Jacksonville, Fla., were arrested alongside the victim’s ex-boyfriend, William DiBernardino and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, criminal attempt of murder in the first-degree, aggravated assault, stalking and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, NBC Philadelphia reported.
They have waived extradition and are awaiting transfer to New Jersey.
DiBernardino is accused of hiring Lane and McNeil to carry out the attack, which occurred on July 26. Police said Lane approached the woman as she returned from work, just after she pulled into the driveway of her home in Monroe Township, and tossed a cup full of liquid at her as she opened her car door.
Investigators believe the liquid was a highly caustic acid.
The unidentified victim sustained chemical burns over 35% of her body and was airlifted to a burn center where she is still being treated.
The suspect then fled the scene in a silver car, which they later determined belonged to a rental agency in Florida. After an “extensive” investigation, authorities determined the vehicle was rented out by Lane and McNeil so they could drive some 900 miles to New Jersey and execute the nefarious plot.
They were both “recruited and compensated” by DiBernardino, the prosecutor’s office said.