Lone attack survivor's status upgraded
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Friday, August 08. 2008 and is filed under Linwood,Current of Pleasantville,Port Republic,Current of Egg Harbor Township,Current of Somers Point,Northfield,Absecon,Current of Galloway,The Current of Hamilton Township 
By STEVE PRISAMENT
Staff Writer
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – The status of the lone survivor of an apparent rampage assault here this week was upgraded Friday, Aug. 8 from critical to serious condition.
Twelve-year-old Courtney McCarten had been classified critical at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus since Tuesday morning when she and her twin sister and their grandmother were attacked by her uncle, according to police.
Her grandmother died Tuesday, and her twin sister died Wednesday from wounds allegedly inflicted by Ronald Weed, 41.
Weed has been charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel.
Police said he used an ax, a ceramic object and a knife to attack his mother and twin nieces visiting from Alabama shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday in the home of Loretta Weed on South Nectar Avenue.
Police said one of the girls called 911 to report that her grandmother was being attacked.
Following an autopsy on his mother Wednesday, Aug. 6, Weed was charged with her murder. On Thursday, Aug. 7, a second murder charge was added after the death of Kimberly McCarten. Loretta Weed died at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday; Kimberly McCarten at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.
Both deaths were attributed to “blunt force trauma to the head,” according to the prosecutor.
In addition to the two murder counts, Weed is charged with three counts of aggravated assault and possession of weapons for unlawful purposes.
He had originally been held on $600,000 cash bail before any of the victims died.
Superior Court Judge Michael Donio raised bail to $1 million, full cash, after the first death when one charge of attempted murder was changed to murder. Donio continued the bail at $1 million Thursday after a second murder charge was added.
During Wednesday’s hearing Weed said he understood the charges against him and told the judge that he could not afford an attorney. The judge said Weed would be provided with forms for a lawyer.
Donio asked Weed if he had even been institutionalized, and Weed said that 10 years ago he spent three weeks at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Camden County, but he is not currently under the care of a doctor.
Galloway Township police contacted the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit shortly after they arrived at the home in the Pinehurst section of the township at about 8:20 a.m.
Authorities discovered the victims bleeding from multiple wounds, according Housel. Loretta Weed was in the living room with one of the girls. The third victim was in a bedroom.
Galloway Township Detective Sgt. Paul Dooner and Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Michael Corrado are the investigators, Housel said.
To comment on this story
email steve.prisament
@catamaranmedia.com.
Staff Writer
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – The status of the lone survivor of an apparent rampage assault here this week was upgraded Friday, Aug. 8 from critical to serious condition.
Twelve-year-old Courtney McCarten had been classified critical at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus since Tuesday morning when she and her twin sister and their grandmother were attacked by her uncle, according to police.
Her grandmother died Tuesday, and her twin sister died Wednesday from wounds allegedly inflicted by Ronald Weed, 41.
Weed has been charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel.
Police said he used an ax, a ceramic object and a knife to attack his mother and twin nieces visiting from Alabama shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday in the home of Loretta Weed on South Nectar Avenue.
Police said one of the girls called 911 to report that her grandmother was being attacked.
Following an autopsy on his mother Wednesday, Aug. 6, Weed was charged with her murder. On Thursday, Aug. 7, a second murder charge was added after the death of Kimberly McCarten. Loretta Weed died at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday; Kimberly McCarten at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.
Both deaths were attributed to “blunt force trauma to the head,” according to the prosecutor.
In addition to the two murder counts, Weed is charged with three counts of aggravated assault and possession of weapons for unlawful purposes.
He had originally been held on $600,000 cash bail before any of the victims died.
Superior Court Judge Michael Donio raised bail to $1 million, full cash, after the first death when one charge of attempted murder was changed to murder. Donio continued the bail at $1 million Thursday after a second murder charge was added.
During Wednesday’s hearing Weed said he understood the charges against him and told the judge that he could not afford an attorney. The judge said Weed would be provided with forms for a lawyer.
Donio asked Weed if he had even been institutionalized, and Weed said that 10 years ago he spent three weeks at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Camden County, but he is not currently under the care of a doctor.
Galloway Township police contacted the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit shortly after they arrived at the home in the Pinehurst section of the township at about 8:20 a.m.
Authorities discovered the victims bleeding from multiple wounds, according Housel. Loretta Weed was in the living room with one of the girls. The third victim was in a bedroom.
Galloway Township Detective Sgt. Paul Dooner and Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Michael Corrado are the investigators, Housel said.
To comment on this story
email steve.prisament
@catamaranmedia.com.
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