Accused Parsippany Kidnapper Faces New Charges for Similar Incident

A man arrested in connection with robbing and stuffing a woman in the trunk of her own car in Parsippany in 2012 has been formally charged in another incident that took place just days before in Linden, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said Monday.

In an incident on Dec. 24, Park charges that Joseph Defreitas, 42, of East Rutherford carjacked a woman heading to work in Linden. In that incident, Defreitas allegedly wore a mask and pointed a handgun at the woman, then forced her to perform a sexual act in an unknown location, Park said. 

Defreitas, along with a second defendant – Marilyn Nadeu, 52, also of East Rutherford – allegedly abducted a New Hampshire woman lost in Parsippany while she was visiting family. In the incident, which allegedly occurred on Dec. 29, the duo made the 71-year-old woman withdraw money from an ATM and then forced her into the trunk of her own car.

In a statement released by acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp last year, 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. 

Defreitas has been lodged in Morris County Correctional Facility since January 18, 2013.

Bail has been set at $650,000 and Defreitas has been charged with carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault in the Dec. 24, 2012 incident.

For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.