WOODBURY, N.J. (TCN) — A 71-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the strangulation death of his disabled adult daughter.
According to the Gloucester County Prosector’s Office, Dennis J. Hall dialed 911 on June 11 and allegedly told them he had strangled his daughter, 40-year-old Devin Hall. He also allegedly admitted to the act when first responders arrived, and a witness said he had admitted to it before making the 911 call. He was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder.
Devin Hall died at the hospital the following day. After the results of her autopsy revealed that the cause of death was manual asphyxia and that the manner of the death was homicide, Hall’s charge was upgraded to first-degree murder, according to the prosecutor’s office.
WLS-TV reports Devin Hall was nonverbal, had multiple disabilities from birth, and was a wheelchair user. Jan Hall, Devin’s mother and Dennis’ wife, told the outlet Dennis allegedly woke her up to tell her what had happened. The outlet reports Hall said her husband was depressed and had undergone mental health issues for the last year.
She said, “I would just like him to tell me why he did it. He had an opportunity to come in and get me when he went in there and she had wet the bed. He could’ve came and woke me up. And I could’ve helped him.”
Devin Hall’s obituary describes her as “an inspiration to others, and she touched many with her beauty, gentle kindness, and innocent presence.” She loved to travel, enjoyed the music of Toby Keith, and liked being strolled on long walks with her mother.
If convicted, Dennis J. Hall faces life in prison. According to the prosecutor’s office, he remains behind bars pending the state’s motion for pretrial detention.
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