Introduction
This blog is a tracking of the murder case of Brittney Gregory by Jack Fuller Jr. for those looking for information.
I had planned to cover the facts as they unfolded, piece together as much of the press and information as I can, since many of the sources of information are
either poorly linked, or disappear to archives (some paid).
At some point I still hope to get some, interviews with some of the players in this case,as well as Brittney's family and friends. I have opted not to even try up until now as I felt there were other places their attention needed to be focused.
While I tried to remain unbiased, once Fuller admitted to killing Brittney, it became impossible for me as a father of a young girl to be COMPLETELY "fair and balanced".
But despite that, all information that I uncover will be found here.
Please feel free to comment, but remain civil. (especially towards each other).
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Suspect indicted in Brittney Gregory’s murder
(orginally publish in The Brick Township Bulletin 02/17/2005)
Prosecutor’s Office will not seek death penalty for Fuller
BY JENNIFER DOME
Staff Writer
A grand jury last week indicted Jack Fuller Jr., the man authorities believe is responsible for Brittney Gregory’s death, for a single count of murder.
If convicted, Fuller could face 30 years to life in prison.
The 16-year-old’s body was discovered on July 27 after she had been missing for two weeks. Her body was found buried in Lakewood in a 2-foot-deep grave near the Metedeconk River boundary separating Monmouth and Ocean counties. The site is about two miles from Brittney’s home.
On Feb. 9, the day the grand jury returned the single-count indictment, Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas F. Kelaher announced that the Capital Case Committee concluded that the Prosecutor’s Office would not seek the death penalty in Fuller’s case. According to a Feb. 9 press release from Kelaher, the committee “has concluded that it is not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the existence of at least one statutory aggravating factor and, therefore, the death penalty is unavailable.”
The factors that the Capital Case Committee look at when deciding if the death penalty is applicable include whether or not the defendant committed or attempted to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary or kidnapping at the time when Brittney was murdered. They also look at the age of the victim, who must be 14 years old or younger for the death penalty to be considered.
The Prosecutor’s Office released no new information about the cause of Brittney’s death. After an autopsy was performed in July, preliminary results revealed that Brittney was found unclothed but with no signs of mutilation. The autopsy proved that Brittney was dead when she was buried and Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Robert A. Gasser has said that asphyxiation has not been ruled out as the cause of her death.
Fuller was arrested on July 18 and has been held at Ocean County jail on $1 million bail ever since. Fuller, a Howell resident, has served two prison terms for burglary, theft and other offenses since 2000.
In November, Fuller’s attorney, John Goins, asked state Superior Court Judge Vincent Grasso to reduce Fuller’s bail. The motion was denied after Executive Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Ronald DeLigny, who will be prosecuting the case on behalf of the state, presented information that the state police DNA laboratory found that blood in Fuller’s vehicle was that of the Brittney’s.
At that time, Gasser, the public information officer for the Prosecutor’s Office, said there was another passenger in Fuller’s vehicle with Brittney on July 11, the day she disappeared. Tom Long, the other passenger, was in the vehicle when Fuller picked Brittney up. At that time Brittney was seated in the rear of the vehicle and moved up front when Long was dropped off, Gasser said.
Another witness reportedly told police that Fuller spoke to him about how deep a body should be buried so it cannot be found, Gasser said.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Man Indicted In Girl’s Death
(originally published by CBS3 Philadelphia Feb 9, 2005)
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) A man being held for the killing of a 16-year-old Brick Township girl has been indicted on a single count of murder, but he won’t face the death penalty, authorities said Wednesday.
Jack Fuller, 39, is jailed on $1 million bail in the slaying of Brittney Gregory, a straight-A student at Brick Memorial High School. She disappeared July 11, and her body was found two weeks later beneath a power line tower in Lakewood.
Fuller, of Howell Township, is being held on $1 million bail.
Fuller, who was a friend of Gregory’s father, has a history of drug and theft-related offenses. He had been released from prison in 2003.
Ocean County Prosecutor Thomas F. Kelaher announced Wednesday that he won’t seek the death penalty, citing the absence of aggravating factors. A capital case committee that reviewed the evidence against Fuller wasn’t satisfied any existed, Kelaher said.
Under state law, aggravating factors may include whether the murder was committed during the commission of another crime such as a robbery, whether the victim was a child younger than 14 or whether the crime was a case of murder for hire, among others.
