MT LAUREL MAN INDICTED FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE; SUSPECT ARRESTED BY BROOKLAWN COPS
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Defendant's mother indicted for attempting to help conceal the crime
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. April 28, 2015 (CNBNews.net) – Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced today that a
Burlington County Grand Jury returned a murder indictment against a Mount Laurel man charged
with killing his wife and dumping her body in a Maryland field earlier this year.
Kyle J. Crosby, age 28, of 5201 Aberdeen Drive in Mount Laurel, was indicted on one count of
Murder (First Degree), one count of Desecrating Human Remains (Second Degree), one count of
Hindering Apprehension (Third Degree) and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third
Degree).
His mother, Jo Crosby, age 67, of 75 Saint Moritz Drive in Sicklerville, NJ, was indicted on one count
of Hindering Apprehension (Fourth Degree) and one count of Tampering With or Fabricating
Physical Evidence (Fourth Degree).
The indictment was returned today. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court. Kyle
Crosby remains in the Burlington County Jail on $1.2 million bail. Jo Crosby is free on $12,500 bail.
Background
Kyle J. Crosby was charged January 13, 2015 with one count of Murder for causing the death of his
wife, Erica Crippen, age 26, who had been missing since New Year’s Eve. He was taken into
custody the evening of January 12 by officers from the Brooklawn Police Department following a
traffic stop and foot chase in Bellmawr, Camden County.
Three searches were conducted in Maryland at different times by investigators from the Burlington
County Prosecutor's Office, the Mount Laurel Police Department, the Maryland State Police, the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police and the New Jersey State Police.
The remains of Erica Crippen, age 26, were discovered March 17 by investigators in a rural area in
Sykesville, Maryland. She was found underneath a pile of branches and limbs in a grove of pine
trees off of Old Frederick Road in Carroll County. She was wrapped in a fleece blanket. Her hands
and feet had been bound with a cord that was also wrapped around her neck. She had duct tape
across her mouth and nose.
The successful search was conducted following a forensic examination of the Global Positioning
System found in Crosby's vehicle after he was taken into custody on January 12. More than 8,600
coordinates had been recorded by the GPS device. Investigators determined that Crosby had spent
more time along Old Frederick Road in Carroll County than at other locations.
It is believed that Kyle Crosby killed Erica Crippen in the early morning hours of December 31 and
transported her remains to Maryland on January 8.
An autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, Maryland concluded
that the manner of death was homicide and the cause was asphyxiation.
Erica Crippen lived with Crosby and two children, a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship
and their 3-month-old daughter. Her disappearance was brought to the attention of law enforcement
officers after school officials contacted the Mount Laurel Police Department on January 7 and
requested a wellness check at the family’s residence.
The request came after neither parent was present to pick up the older daughter at the end of the
school day.
Kyle Crosby signed a missing person report that day indicating he had not seen his wife since
January 1. Further investigation led to charges against Kyle Crosby filed on January 10 for
Endangering the Welfare of a Child due to the level of care he provided to the children in the
absence of his wife. The existence of the charge allowed law enforcement officers to execute the
traffic stop on January 12 and detain Crosby.
Jo Crosby was charged because the investigation revealed that she provided significant assistance
to her son as he attempted to conceal Erica’s death.