A New Jersey father has been charged with first-degree murder after prosecutors say he admitted to strangling his disabled adult daughter inside the family home.
Dennis J. Hall, 71, of Franklin Township, Gloucester County, is accused in the death of his 40-year-old daughter, Devin Hall.
Police were called to the family’s home on East Avenue on the morning of June 11 after Hall reported that Devin was not breathing. According to prosecutors, Hall allegedly admitted during the emergency call and again to responding officers that he had strangled her.
A witness at the home also reportedly told investigators that Hall woke them up and admitted what he had done.
Devin was rushed to a local hospital, where she remained on life support. She died the following day, June 12, after being removed from life support.
An autopsy later determined that Devin died from asphyxiation and classified her death as a homicide.
Hall was initially charged with attempted murder, but the charge was upgraded to first-degree murder after Devin died and the medical examiner completed the autopsy.
Devin’s mother, Jan Hall, later spoke publicly about the horrifying moment her husband allegedly woke her up and told her their daughter was dead. She said she tried to perform CPR on Devin after realizing what had happened.
Jan also said Devin had multiple disabilities from birth, used a wheelchair and did not speak, but communicated in other ways. Family members remembered Devin as gentle, loving and deeply connected to her mother.
Relatives said Devin loved music, travel, long walks with her mother and special family outings. Her obituary said she had visited 32 states and especially loved Toby Keith and Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
The case has shocked the South Jersey community and raised painful questions about caregiving stress, disability, family violence and how vulnerable adults are protected.
Hall is being held at Salem County Jail while prosecutors seek pretrial detention. A detention hearing is scheduled for June 23.
The charge remains an accusation, and Hall is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
