New Jersey man charged with murdering woman in her Burlington County home
A New Jersey man, who had been charged with stealing a Mount Laurel woman's vehicle and debit card, has now been charged with her murder.
Andrew Kramer, 31, of Mantua is charged with First-Degree Murder, two counts of Third and Fourth Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in the death of 38-year old Melissa Malcolm on Wednesday, announced Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Mount Laurel Township Police Chief Stephen Riedener.
Kramer is in custody in Philadelphia, at the moment, on weapons offenses and charges of simple assault and making terroristic threats but Prosecutor Coffina said that his office will seek to extradite him to New Jersey, for a detention hearing in Superior Court.
Malcom and Kramer knew each other, in fact, they had recently resided together in her home in the 600 block of Mount Laurel Road, before she asked him to move out.
On Wednesday, Mount Laurel Police made entry to her home to conduct a wellness check after she didn't show up to work and then found Melissa in her bedroom dead from what they learned was due to Kramer bludgeoning her in the head.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood confirmed that as well.
Kramer stole Malcom's vehicle, a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, after the murder and in addition to being charged for that, he faces charges for using her debit card January 26 to withdraw cash from machines at convenience stores in Marlton and Brooklawn.
It was there that Kramer was caught on surveillance driving Malcom's vehicle and buying something.
Philadelphia PD arrested him on Wednesday over on Brandywine Street after responding to a report of a man with a gun.
Kramer had threatened a man at gunpoint for refusing to give him a ride.
The caller told police, he was able to lock the man in a garage after being threatened.
When Philadelphia Police arrived, they found Kramer holding the gun under his chin and after approximately 30 minutes of talking with him, officers were able to convince him to put down his loaded .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
“I’d like to commend the individual whom the defendant confronted in Philadelphia, for his level-headed and resourceful response to this frightening encounter,” Prosecutor Coffina said in a statement. “I’d like to equally acknowledge the excellent work by the Philadelphia Police Department in their response to the scene and their successful de-escalation of the situation that ensured the defendant did not harm any of the responding officers or himself.”
Prosecutor Coffina said that Kramer will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Bob Van Gilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit – Violent Crimes Section.