Murder Suspect Charged in Thirza Sweeten Case

A suspect has been charged in Gloucester County's first murder of 2012, but the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office declined to name the man ahead of a scheduled Friday press conference.

The charges stem from the death of 79-year-old Thirza Sweeten, .

Paulsboro police and the prosecutor's office interviewed about 20 people in the days following the discovery, and had just days later, though prosecutors never identified that person.

At the same time that person of interest was identified, at the State Police lab in Trenton.

Sweeten, who lived in a gray bungalow on the corner of Jessup and South Delaware streets, had been a longtime Paulsboro resident. She was found dead in the home, with multiple injuries, by her daughter, who had come to check on her.

The prosecutor's office scheduled the announcement of the charges for noon Friday.