Armed Kidnappers Robbed, Stuffed Woman in Trunk, Prosecutor Says

Two East Rutherford residents have been accused of carjacking and kidnapping a 71-year-old woman at gunpoint from a Parsippany parking lot before stuffing her in the trunk of her car, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

Joseph Defreitas, 41, and Marilyn Nadeau, 52, were charged Thursday with kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, conspiracy and credit card theft. Defreitas was also charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

According to a statement released Friday by Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp, a 71-year-old New Hampshire woman traveling home from a holiday visit with family in Mount Laurel became lost and stopped in a Route 10 parking lot on Dec. 29. The prosecutor's office did not indicate where on Route 10 the incident took place.

While attempting to get directions, the woman was approached by Defreitas and Nadeau, Knapp said. Defreitas brandished a handgun and forced the woman into his car, Knapp said. Nadeau followed in the victim's car to an ATM machine in Parsippany, Knapp said.

Defreitas demanded the woman reveal her personal identification number to complete the cash withdrawal, Knapp said. The woman complied and was then driven to a parking lot outside a Parsippany industrial building on Woodhollow Road, Knapp said.

Defreitas then stuffed the woman in the trunk of her car, Knapp said. The woman was later able to free herself and call for help, Knapp said.

After stealing the woman's purse, Defreitas and Nadeau used her credit cards at stores throughout North Jersey and New York, Knapp said.

Members of the Parsippany Police Department and Morris County Prosecutor's Office arrested Defreitas and Nadeau in East Rutherford on Thursday, Knapp said.

Bail was set at $500,000 for Defreitas and $300,000 for Nadeau, both without a 10 percent cash option, Knapp said. The pair was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.