‘Oh, my God, she was murdered!’ — 911 call released as husband remains on the loose

LAWRENCE (Cumberland) — A neighbor notified 911 after Jeremiah Monell allegedly killed estranged wife Tara O’Shea-Watson, leaving her dead in her Cumberland County home.

The neighbor's alarmed voice is heard in a 911 call recording released and published by NJ Advance Media Friday.

"Oh, my God, she was murdered!" the neighbor says at one point. When the 911 operator asks what kind of injuries  O’Shea-Watson had, he answers. "I want to ... with state police right now.... I need a state trooper out here right now."

Monell remains a fugitive, and authorities have posted a $3,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. His truck was discovered shortly after a manhunt for Monell began, but he continues to evade capture.

Family and friends of O’Shea’s told 6ABC Action News that Monell slit her throat in front of their 12-year-old son. Authorities have not confirmed that account.

A friend also previously told NJ.com that O’Shea-Watson, who had two children with Monell, had recently obtained a restraining order against her husband, who she feared would one day kill her.

In the 911 call, the neighbor first tells the operator "My wife's best friend's son just came down to my house talking about his mom's dead" — that the boy woke them out of a sound sleep, and his wife had gone to O’Shea-Watson's home to see if she was OK.

The caller apparently followed inside, telling the 911 operator he was being careful not to touch anything. He says his wife found the woman dead on her living-room floor.

"Her (O'Shea-Watson's) ex-husband was over here last night (Dec. 18) doing brake line work on her truck," the caller says.

The caller also told the 911 operator the dead woman was covered with a blanket, and he couldn't see any blood. But after a redacted portion of the tape, yells "Oh, my God, she was murdered!" It's not clear what happened in those moments.

O’Shea-Watson has three children — two of them, 12 and 3 years old, with Monell. Her other children are 15, 16 and 18 years old.

Monell has been charged with murder and related weapons possession with bail set at $1 million.

Monell is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 140 pounds. He was last seen driving a 1994 blue Chevrolet S10 pickup with New Jersey license plate X91GJV. State Police have asked anyone with information about Monell’s whereabouts to call 856-785-0036.