Man admits guilt to Pemberton arson that killed romantic rival
MOUNT HOLLY – A 23-year-old Burlington Township man has admitted he set a fire that killed a romantic rival in Pemberton Borough.
Newlin Evans IV pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in exchange for a recommended sentence of 22 years, said the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
What happened?
Evans, 23, started a predawn fire that killed Camryn Powell, 22, at the Tara Hall apartment complex in April 2020, the prosecutor’s office said.
A woman involved with both men told investigators Evans had vowed to kill Powell if she and the victim did not end their relationship, according to a probable cause statement in the case.
The statement also alleged Evans bought a gas can and $10 worth of gasoline from an unidentified retailer around 3:30 a.m. on April 20.
Evans cut a screen and broke a window before throwing a flaming, gasoline-soaked material into a first-floor apartment around 5:45 a.m., the statement said.
Other victims
Two of Powell’s family members were hospitalized after the fire, and multiple tenants were displaced from the complex on the first block of Egbert Street.
Evans fled from the fire, but was hospitalized with burns later that day.
He was arrested after being released from a Philadelphia hospital and has been held at Burlington County Jail since that time.
Evans would have to serve almost 19 years before parole eligibility under the plea agreement.
Superior Court Judge Terrence Cook on Wednesday scheduled sentencing for March 24.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Pemberton NJ arson death: Burlington man admits he killed rival
