After nearly three decades, investigators linked a New Jersey man to the cold case murders of a young woman and a teen girl in the mid-90s.

During a press conference, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Camden County prosecutors shared that Francis T. Schooley, who died in 2000 at the age of 39, has been linked through DNA evidence to the murders of 24-year-old Marebeth Welsh of Woodlynne, New Jersey, in 1993 and 16-year-old Jennifer Persia of Magnolia, New Jersey, in 1994.

The Death of Marebeth Welsh

On Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, at around 4:24 a.m., members of the Camden Police Department found a woman, later identified as Marebeth Welsh, 24, dead on a sidewalk along the 300 block of Jackson Street in Camden, New Jersey.

Police said Welsh was found with blood coming from her nose, no shoes, a sock on her right foot but no sock on her left foot. The back of her clothing was dry despite rain as late as 3:30 a.m. that morning.

According to police, the crime scene strongly suggested that Welsh had been placed at that location following her death.

He death was immediately ruled a homicide by the medical examiners office. It was also found that she had been sexually assaulted.

Following her death, investigators examined DNA evidence obtained from Welsh’s shirt and underwear as well as blood that was found on her bed comforter in her bedroom.

It was found later that the DNA profile was that of a male, but the evidence didn’t match any of the men she had associated with.

Marebeth Welsh. Credit: Office of the Camden County Prosecutor

The Death of Jennifer Persia

On Monday, April 4, 1994, at around 8:45 p.m., members of the Magnolia Police Department had responded to the 100 block of Jefferson Street in Magnolia, New Jersey, after receiving a report about an unconscious individual.

When officers got to the scene, police said they found Jennifer Persia, 16, lying on the floor of the living room suffering from multiple stab wounds and a cloth ligature around her neck. She was pronounced dead a short time later.

The medical examiner determined Persia’s cause of death to be multiple incised wounds to the neck and chest, ligature strangulation, as well as multiple sharp and blunt injuries. The manner of her death was homicide.

At the crime scene, prosecutors said investigators found blood evidence, specifically blood from Persia’s socks, the lower-level door towards the rear exit of the residence, and the primary bedroom closet.

An analysis on the blood evidence showed that the blood came from an unknown man. When the DNA was entered into the Combined DNA Index System, there was no match.

Jennifer Persia. Credit: Office of the Camden County Prosecutor

How DNA helped solve decades-old cold cases

Prosecutors shared that in August of 2025, Welsh’s shirt and underwear were resubmitted to the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences for additional DNA analysis

That DNA showed that it matched the DNA profile obtained from the blood found at the scene of Persia’s murder.

Prosecutors said as a result of investigative genetic genealogy testing and additional interviews, a suspect was tentatively identified as Francis T. Schooley.

Schooley died in 2000 at the age of 39.

In January 2026, prosecutors said detectives then met with a parent of Schooley and obtained multiple buccal swabs.

Following an analysis, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Cold Case Unit determined
there was sufficient probable cause to show that Schooley was the source of the unknown male DNA profile obtained from evidence located at the scene of Persia’s murder and on the clothing of Welsh.

Through interviews, prosecutors said it was also found that Schooley had performed past construction work at
the residence of Persia’s stepfather and at Sterling Auto Shop, which was partially owned by Persia’s stepfather. Schooley had been part owner of a mini race car that was sponsored by Sterling Auto Shop.

Additionally, detectives spoke with a sibling of Schooley who was shown a photograph of Marebeth Welsh. Prosecutors said that sibling reported seeing Welsh and Schooley together in the past.

Francis T. Schooley. Credit: Office of the Camden County Prosecutor

Prosecutors said Schooley would be charged in both of these cases, if he was still alive.

“Thanks to remarkable advances in DNA technology and diligent detective work, we have finally been able to bring answers to two families who have waited decades for justice,” said Camden County
Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay. “These cases never left the minds of our investigators, even as the years passed. We must commend Sergeant Dennis Convery and Detective Daniel Crawford for their unwavering commitment to the truth. No matter how much time passes, we will continue to pursue justice for every victim.”