MAYS LANDING, N.J. — A 77-year-old Mays Landing woman has been found guilty of murdering her domestic partner inside their home in 2024, using a household statue and a kitchen knife to inflict fatal injuries.
An Atlantic County jury convicted Eileen Bright on Tuesday, Sept. 22, of first-degree murder in the death of Gary Johnson, 81, also of Mays Landing.
The jury also found Bright guilty of two counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, the jury rejected Bright's defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Bright faces 30 years to life in state prison when she is sentenced Oct. 27 before Superior Court Judge Christine Smith.
Police Responded to Mays Landing Home
The murder occurred March 31, 2024, at a residence on Lewis Drive in Hamilton Township.
At approximately 5:39 p.m., Hamilton Township police responded to a 911 call reporting a deceased man at 13 Lewis Drive.
When officers arrived, they found Johnson dead inside the residence.
Authorities said Johnson had suffered multiple wounds to his head and body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation was conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and the Hamilton Township Police Department.
Jury Rejects Insanity Defense
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Bright used a household statue and a kitchen knife to kill Johnson.
Bright entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that defense and returned guilty verdicts on all five charges.
The prosecutor's office did not provide additional details about the evidence presented during the trial, the circumstances leading up to the killing or the length of jury deliberations.
The state was represented at trial by Atlantic County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey and Assistant Prosecutor Alexandria Peters.
Sentencing Scheduled for October
Bright is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 27, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Christine Smith.
She faces a prison sentence ranging from 30 years to life for the first-degree murder conviction.
The prosecutor's office did not specify whether Bright remains in custody pending sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and Hamilton Township police.
