Crime & Safety

Police: Help Us Find 77-Year-Old Woman's Killer

Barbara Wilson remembered as a dedicated volunteer

Police say they need the public's help determining who killed a 77-year-old woman, found dead in Mount Arlington Sunday afternoon.

Authorities Monday identified the woman as Barbara Wilson of Howard Boulevard, and said her death had been caused by blunt force trauma. Friends and associates described Wilson Monday as a dedicated church and community volunteer, and a longtime resident of the borough.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi offered limited detail about the circumstances of Wilson's death Monday, saying authorities were still processing the scene, and were cautious to avoid releasing information that could contaminate their investigation.

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Bianchi said that when Wilson had failed to show up for a fundraiser at the Mt. Fern United Methodist Church of Randolph, friends there became worried and asked police to check in on her. When police arrived early Sunday afternoon, they forced entry to her home and found her dead by a bed, he said.

Bianchi described Wilson as very involved in her community and church. She had been married, but her husband was deceased, he said. She was not employed at the time of her death, but had worked recently with charitable organizations.

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He also did not say who the last person known to have spoken to Wilson was, or how long she is believed to have been dead. But he urged those who knew her to come forward with information about their last contact with her, saying authorities are still putting together a timeline of the events leading to her death.

The prosecutor said residents of Mt. Arlington and the surrounding area should be extra vigilant, and watch out in particular for people unfamiliar to their neighborhoods or going door to door for any reason. But he said that he urged that as a general precaution—and was not suggesting Wilson was necessarily killed by someone going door to door.

"We are not trying to scare anybody," Binachi said.

No suspects are yet in custody, he said.

The Rev. Jack Copas of the Mt. Fern church described losing Wilson as "devastating" for his congregation.

"She was a very wonderful person," he said. "She was very active in the church, a longtime member of the church, a very dedicated member."

Copas said Wilson was a frequent volunteer, involved with several committees, fundraisers and other activities. In fact, Wilson had come up with the idea of Sunday's fundraiser, a soup sale for Super Bowl Sunday.

Mount Arlington Mayor Art Ondish said Wilson had also volunteered frequently at polling places. He said he'd known her for a long time.

"It’s a tragedy for the town," Ondish said. "I have all the confidence that our police department will find out who did this and bring that person or persons to justice. In the meantime, I would just urge people to be vigilant about what’s going on around them."

Greg Stigliano, of MTA Service Center on Howard Boulevard described Wilson as a custumer and friend.

"She was a very nice person. Very often she would come in and we’d just talk," he said. "She had a brother and sister. She was trying to move in with her sister because she wasn’t comfortable living at home alone. She had concerns about her driveway. It wasn’t paved, and it was hard to keep up. She wouldn’t go out often, and not at night."

Stigliano said when Wilson got a new car, one of the first things she did was come to show him.

"She was a wonderful woman. She’s a sweet woman who certainly didn’t deserve anything like that," he said.

Copas said the church plans to hold a memorial service, but it's too early to know the details of when.

"And our doors our always open if anybody would like to come for prayer or any help—we have a team who can help," he said.

Anyone with information can contact the Mount Arlington Police Department at 973-398-2100, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-2900 or the Morris Sheriff's Office Crime Stopper Program at 973-COPCALL.

The prosecutor's office along with the Mount Arlington Police Department, Morris County Sheriff's Office, Morris County Park Police, Morris County Medical Examiners Office and the Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety are currently investigating the incident.

Did you know Barbara Wilson? Patch invites you to share your memories of her or thoughts for her loved ones in the comments below.


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