2 charged with killing Hamilton ex-con in his apartment

HAMILTON — Two people have been charged in the Friday slaying of a killer ex-con in his township apartment, officials said Tuesday.

Marcus L. Muse, 24, of Willingboro, and Tatiana S. Cole,  24, of Pemberton, were arrested Monday at a Mount Laurel hotel and charged with shooting Michael DiMattia, 53, twice during a robbery of his Victoria Apartments home.

Muse and Willingboro stole $18,000 from the apartment and were found in their hotel room with a gun believed to have been used in the theft, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said.

DiMattia, also known as “Mickey Rome” and “Mickey Capone,” was a sports star in high school but his later life was plagued by drugs and crime. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a drug dealer in 1990. After his release from prison, he faced multiple weapons and drug charges.

His attorney, Jerome Ballarotto, said DiMattia worked in the check-cashing business and was loved by many, including a long-term girlfriend. Ballarotto last week said he suspected that drugs may have played a role in DiMattia’s death.

Both are charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons possession charges. Muse is being held in lieu of $1 million bail while Cole is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.