A man accused of brutally killing his ex-girlfriend in Waldwick NJ has reportedly pleaded guilty to first degree murder charges. The homicide occurred on October 23, 2013. According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect, 22-year-old Mark J. Spatucci, violently murdered his girlfriend, Mary Greff, at her parents’ residence in Waldwick, New Jersey. Spatucci and Greff had been dating for some time and had a 10-month-old infant child together. Prior to the violent incident, the couple had broken up. It is unclear if the victim obtained a restraining order against the suspect at any point before the murder.

When the suspect allegedly committed the murder, the couple’s child was asleep in the house. The victim’s parents were also sleeping at the home at the time of the homicide. Bergen County NJ prosecutors alleged that the suspect broke into the Waldwick house owned by the victim’s parents, reportedly gaining access through a second-floor window and then going to a room shared by the victim and her young son.

Spatucci and Greff reportedly got into a heated argument that soon turned violent. The argument ended with Spatucci strangling Greff to death. Not long after Spatucci committed the murder, Waldwick NJ police officers were able to locate him in Midland Park, New Jersey. He was placed under arrest without incident and charged with multiple criminal offenses, including murder. Bergen County medical examiners later performed an autopsy on the victim’s body and determined that the suspect likely raped her prior to committing the murder. As a result, the suspect was also charged with aggravated sexual assault.

Now the suspect is likely headed to NJ State Prison for a very long time after appearing in Bergen County Superior Court, in Hackensack NJ, and pleading guilty to first degree murder charges. Spatucci also entered a guilty plea on charges of hindering apprehension. The suspect had been charged with hindering apprehension because he allegedly tried to destroy evidence in order to cover up the murder. In exchange for Spatucci pleading guilty to the most serious criminal charges, prosecutors agreed to drop additional charges of burglary, child endangerment, and sexual assault.

Since being arrested, the suspect had been held at the Bergen County Jail in lieu of a massive $2 million bail amount. Now the suspect will be spending several decades in New Jersey State Prison. It is expected that Bergen County prosecutors will recommend that Spatucci be sentenced to a term of incarceration of 45 years.The victim was a former beauty pageant contestant who had competed in the Miss Teen USA competition. She had been training to become a server at the Tilted Kilt, a popular restaurant in Wayne, NJ. She was just 23 years old when she died.

For additional information about this case, read the Patch.com article, “Bergen Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Former Beauty Pageant Contestant.”

Waldwick NJ Murder Charges – Lawyer Needed

If you are being investigated or accused of murder or attempted murder after an alleged domestic violence incident in Waldwick, contact our experienced Bergen County criminal defense lawyers now for immediate assistance. The initial consultation is always provided free of charge.