From Edwart Tetz’ appeal: In December 1996, defendant began an affair with Michelle Melini roughly six months after his marriage to his wife. Defendant had discussed divorce with his wife in January 1997, and Melini told defendant he would have to choose between his wife and her.
At 8:44 p.m. on February 11, 1997, Vineland police officers discovered Kimberly slumped over in her small car in Giampietro Park. She was shot twice at close range by a shotgun. Substantial evidence supporting the conviction included: the affair and defendant’s request for divorce; defendant drove a white pickup truck and eyewitnesses saw both a truck and a small car, like defendant’s and Kimberly’s, in 
the park shortly before the homicide; defendant’s statements to police regarding his affair and his whereabouts before the homicide were belied by other evidence; defendant owned shotguns and police discovered in defendant’s home partially empty boxes of ammunition like that used in the murder; and a blood sample found near the truck’s gas tank lid matched the DNA of a sample of Kimberly’s blood. Actually, two samples of Kimberly’s blood were collected and provided to police. One was provided to a police officer present at the autopsy. A second sample was provided later, by a person at Shore Memorial Hospital where Kimberly was taken after the murder. A Vineland police officer retrieved the sample from the hospital and transported it unrefrigerated to Vineland.
Teaching Assistant Is Slain In Vineland
Man, 26, Charged In Wife’s Slaying
Remembering the victims of domestic violence
Ground broken for awareness garden
State of New Jersey v Edward Tetz 2012
Movies/Documentaries
Deadly Affairs: Drowned by Love
INMATE INFORMATION
Edward J Tetz
SBI Number: 000647819B
Sentenced as: Tetz, Edward J
Race: White
Ethnicity: White
Sex: Male
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 197 lbs.
Birth Date: December 28, 1971
Admission Date: April 26, 2001
Current Facility: NJSP
Current Max Release Date: March 5, 2031
Current Parole Eligibility Date: March 5, 2031
CURRENT PRISON SENTENCE
Offense: 1 count of : 2C:11-3A1*1 Murder-Purposely Causes Death /1
Offense Date: February 11, 1997
Sentence Date: April 26, 2001
County of Commitment: Cumberland
Commitment Order: 98-01-00070-I
Mandatory Minimum Term: 30 Years
Maximum Term: 30 Years
Offense: 1 count of : 2C:39-5 Weapons/Unlawful Possession of Weapon /3
Offense Date: February 11, 1997
Sentence Date: April 26, 2001
County of Commitment: Cumberland
Commitment Order: 98-01-00070-I
Mandatory Minimum Term: None
Maximum Term: 4 Years
